RHINO prices at this year’s Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Game Auction held on Monday were much lower than in previous years.

Despite there being only 10 White Rhinos on auction, the average price obtained was R361 500, a drop of R28 000 on last year when 39 were available for purchase.

This follows a steady increase in prices over the last six years.

This is an indication that the poaching problem is becoming an issue with buyers, who seem to be shying away or just maintaining the animals they have.

Excluding the rhino sales, the highest price paid on the day for a single animal was R115 000 for a buffalo bull, followed by R60 000 for hippo.

An unusual species on auction were two groups of Ostrich, totalling 15 birds, which were sold for R2 700 each.

Gross sales at the auction were R8.148-million, with R440 000 going towards the Ezemvelo community levy.

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