127 replies to this topic Post Order

[Chubba]

Rhino poached at game reserve
August 22 2011 at 09:25am

THE STAR

Photo: Moloko Moloto

A rhino has been killed and two others have been darted for dehorning by poachers at the Aquila private game reserve in Worcester, Cape Town, it was reported on Monday.

A six-year-old male rhino was killed and its horns were hacked off with a machete on Saturday, reported The Star newspaper.

Another male was darted and its horn was removed with a chainsaw, but the animal survived the attack. The surviving male's four-year-old female calf was darted twice, but was not dehorned.

It was believed that anti-poaching patrols might have scared off the poachers.

According to Beeld, the injured male was recovering well and was no longer in a critical condition. – Sapa

Edited by Chubba, 11 November 2011 - 12:17 .

[Chubba]

Reward offered for tip-offs against rhino poachers

Management at Aquila Game Reserve in the Karoo is offering R100,000 reward for information which could lead to the arrest of rhino poachers.

Three rhinos were attacked at the reserve on Saturday.

One rhino died while another is fighting for its life.

Aquila's Searl Derman said, “We’re planning a massive attempt … we offered R100,000 reward at this stage, for any information leading to an arrest and a conviction.”

Derman said vets are trying to save the badly injured rhino.

“[This] rhino has had a very hard times, we’ve actually thought it was dead on two occasions and then it surprised us and stood up ..." he added.

[Chubba]

These guys are very organized and have huge funding. I heard on 567, they had night and thermal vision, automatic rifles, hacksaws, chainsaws and darting equipment.

I don't understand how people can be so cruel to another living creature. They hacked their horns off while still alive.

How I would love to spend a couple hours in a room with a couple of these guys and some “special” equipment!

Edited by Chubba, 22 August 2011 - 09:50 .

[duringd]

They should just shoot the f..kers when they catch them!!!! No, too easy, tie them down in the veld for nature to take its rightful vengeance.

[MTB_Roadie]

duringd, on 22 August 2011 - 09:49 , said:

They should just shoot the f..kers when they catch them!!!! No, too easy, tie them down in the veld for nature to take its rightful vengeance.

Even when try running away, they must just kill them!

[Tazz007]

I know a Rhino is no Rhino without its horns, but what is a game reserve without a single Rhino???

I say let the Vets remove all (living) Rhino's horns in a safe and controlled manner (instead of having them killed by poachers for it), and in so doing take away the incentive driving the poachers to kill them. Who knows maybe then they'll leave the poor creatures alone.

At least in that way we're almost guaranteed to still have Rhino's walking the vast areas and game lands ... albeit without a horn but compared to being butchered by poachers ??????

Heaven alone knows how many poachers are ever caught (close to none), so what other option is there - extinction?

[Chubba]

Tazz007, on 22 August 2011 - 10:55 , said:

I know a Rhino is no Rhino without its horns, but what is a game reserve without a single Rhino???

I say let the Vets remove all (living) Rhino's horns in a safe and controlled manner (instead of having them killed by poachers for it), and in so doing take away the incentive driving the poachers to kill them. Who knows maybe then they'll leave the poor creatures alone.

At least in that way we're almost guaranteed to still have Rhino's walking the vast areas and game lands ... albeit without a horn but compared to being butchered by poachers ??????

Heaven alone knows how many poachers are ever caught (close to none), so what other option is there - extinction?

I agree - cut the horn off and burn it!
This would have to a ongoing process as Rhino horn is like human nail, and grows back.

[flymango]

Saw the photos in the The Argus of the surviving male and cannot believe the brutality of the human race. Genuinely brought a tear to my eye. I never thought I'd say this but I hope they catch those bastards and make them suffer the same way as the rhinos did.

[Crash Gordon]

Is there no way to poison the horn so that the gooks cannot eat it/whatever they do with it? Poison the users so that the market dies along with the rhinos...
Scare tactics always work well. Let the bastards have to take a chance every time, a gamble with death if they get a horn from SA

[F_R_A_I_L]

I was just 2 Months ago there. They have always been willing to Support and welcomed me to the Farm.

Just TOO close to Home!

[Stretch]

one day our government will suddenly realise that there is no tourism because none of the wildlife is left and then try and blame everyone else.

there was a episode on carte blanche not long ago and the parks department was involved with issuing permits for trophy hunting of rhinos without any background checks or anything! EDIT: and these do not get reflected on the "poaching" list

dont get me started on this. we had something ridiculous like almost 350 rhino poached last year

Edited by Stretch, 22 August 2011 - 11:51 .

[MTB_Roadie]

David, since when you using that Peugeot?

[F_R_A_I_L]

MTB_Roadie, on 23 August 2011 - 12:51 , said:

David, since when you using that Peugeot?

Mini Hijack.
WHY?
Before I answer, should I know something/ or am I missing something?
Hijack off.

[brad890]

Chubba, on 22 August 2011 - 10:58 , said:

I agree - cut the horn off and burn it!
This would have to a ongoing process as Rhino horn is like human nail, and grows back.

the problem is your not allowed to destroy the horn and or your not allowed to sell the horn, the problem with dehorning rhino is that it then becomes a big security risk to the farms owner/manager, because what happens then is the bush news gets out that the rhinos horns have been removed, and these thieves then go and rob/kill the farmer for the horn he has in his safe.

Crash Gordon, on 22 August 2011 - 11:34 , said:

Is there no way to poison the horn so that the gooks cannot eat it/whatever they do with it? Poison the users so that the market dies along with the rhinos...
Scare tactics always work well. Let the bastards have to take a chance every time, a gamble with death if they get a horn from SA

unfortunately with poison what you have to remember is that, the poison could in turn poison the rhino, as the horn is connected to the animals nasal sinuses which are super absorptive, the second problem is you'll have to impregnate what ever poison would be used as rhino naturally rub their horns and will just rub what ever poison off in a week.




what i think should happen with the whole saga should be that trade of rhino horn should be legalized and one would require the relevant permits/paper work, and the procedures would have to be done by a registered veterinarian, as legally veterinarians are the only people legally allowed to use m99 and A3080, the immobilization drug.

by doing this you A- reduce the black market sale of horn and poaching. and B- you will further increase the value of rhinos as they would then become a business avenue and would thus be better conserved/ protected.

[brad890]

Chubba, on 22 August 2011 - 10:58 , said:

This would have to a ongoing process as Rhino horn is like human nail, and grows back.

actually rhino horn is actually a interesting thing, it is actually hair not nail, if you ever one day get the opportunity to feel a horn, you'll feel the very thick and hard hairs on the surface of the horn.


makes you think, these people using it for medicinal purposes mind as well eat a hand full of hair off their head

[Chubba]

brad890, on 23 August 2011 - 08:17 , said:

actually rhino horn is actually a interesting thing, it is actually hair not nail, if you ever one day get the opportunity to feel a horn, you'll feel the very thick and hard hairs on the surface of the horn.


makes you think, these people using it for medicinal purposes mind as well eat a hand full of hair off their head

Yup, have had the opportunity to spend some time up close with some white rhino calves and adults in Bulawayo. Awesome animals.

Game ranger involved in latest rhino poaching incident

Staff at the Aquila Game Reserve in the Karoo on Tuesday said they suspected a game ranger may have been involved the Western Cape's most recent rhino poaching incident.

Investigators found a glove and a jersey at the scene.

They believe the items may belong to a nature conservationist or a game ranger.

One of the three rhinos targeted on Saturday has died.

Aquila's Searle Derman said, “The whole attempt is to try and find someone who might know someone who has a jersey like that and who has the means. Like a military person or even a game ranger.”

(Edited by Lisa Bartlett)