Rhinos Poisoned In Limpopo
MUSINA- Five endangered white rhino have been poisoned along with scores of other large game in Limpopo's worst single poaching tragedy.
The five rhino were poisoned at a natural waterhole on Nwanedi Nature Reserve near Musina, in what police are describing as an "extremely well-planned slaughter" of 26 large game and scores of smaller animals such as baboon and birds.
The horns had been chopped off all five rhino by the time game rangers discovered the killing field on Monday morning.
The dead animals included 10 nyala, three blue wildebeest, two zebra, one kudu, three impala, and seven waterhogs, valued at roughly R2M.
"The animals were found lying dead next to the waterhole, and must have died shortly after drinking.
"There were even numerous dead birds, which looked as though they had dropped out of the sky while trying to fly away," said police superintendent Ronel Otto on Tuesday.
"We analysed the water, and have found traces of a poison called Temic. It definitely looks like premeditated poaching."
Rangers and police trackers managed to follow the poachers' trail to nearby Solovhodwe village, but the tracks were lost in the village centre.
Otto said: "We are following a number of other leads, and are also actively encouraging villagers to help us trace these killers.
"This kind of poaching endangers tourism, which is the biggest employer in the region.
"There is also the danger that poisoned water contaminates supplies used by humans in the area. This could turn out to be a really serious threat."
Otto said the incident was the largest single poaching case on record with Limpopo police, but was not able to give figures on the extent or regularity of illegal hunting or poaching in the province.
Nwanedi Nature Reserve is 9 300ha in area and boasted 15 white rhino and an unspecified number of leopard, but no other 'big five' game.
Reserve staff, who declined to be named, said Nwanedi was plagued by petty poaching of kudu, eland, and impala to supply illegal butcheries.
No rhino had been poached before, and the slaughter on Monday marked a new and "terrifying" change in tactics.
Limpopo environment department general manager Fixon Hlongwane expressed shock at the incident on Tuesday, urging police to arrest everyone implicated in the slaughter and pledging an in-depth government probe into security at Nwanedi Nature Reserve.
The five rhino were poisoned at a natural waterhole on Nwanedi Nature Reserve near Musina, in what police are describing as an "extremely well-planned slaughter" of 26 large game and scores of smaller animals such as baboon and birds.
The horns had been chopped off all five rhino by the time game rangers discovered the killing field on Monday morning.
The dead animals included 10 nyala, three blue wildebeest, two zebra, one kudu, three impala, and seven waterhogs, valued at roughly R2M.
"The animals were found lying dead next to the waterhole, and must have died shortly after drinking.
"There were even numerous dead birds, which looked as though they had dropped out of the sky while trying to fly away," said police superintendent Ronel Otto on Tuesday.
"We analysed the water, and have found traces of a poison called Temic. It definitely looks like premeditated poaching."
Rangers and police trackers managed to follow the poachers' trail to nearby Solovhodwe village, but the tracks were lost in the village centre.
Otto said: "We are following a number of other leads, and are also actively encouraging villagers to help us trace these killers.
"This kind of poaching endangers tourism, which is the biggest employer in the region.
"There is also the danger that poisoned water contaminates supplies used by humans in the area. This could turn out to be a really serious threat."
Otto said the incident was the largest single poaching case on record with Limpopo police, but was not able to give figures on the extent or regularity of illegal hunting or poaching in the province.
Nwanedi Nature Reserve is 9 300ha in area and boasted 15 white rhino and an unspecified number of leopard, but no other 'big five' game.
Reserve staff, who declined to be named, said Nwanedi was plagued by petty poaching of kudu, eland, and impala to supply illegal butcheries.
No rhino had been poached before, and the slaughter on Monday marked a new and "terrifying" change in tactics.
Limpopo environment department general manager Fixon Hlongwane expressed shock at the incident on Tuesday, urging police to arrest everyone implicated in the slaughter and pledging an in-depth government probe into security at Nwanedi Nature Reserve.
posted by Kruger2Canyons.com at
Saturday, May 14, 2005
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