According to local reports in South Africa, as many as NINE rhino were killed this week in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal… in what is becoming a tragic occurrence every time there is a full moon (nicknamed Poachers’ Moon).
This brings the total rhino killed by poachers in the park during the first two weeks of this month – May 2017 – to an insane total of 23.
As security and anti-poaching measures have been stepped up in the Kruger National Park, poachers from Mpumalanga have been turning their focus to KwaZulu-Natal.
Local resident, Patrick van Rensburg, told SAPeople: “I live in Zululand very close to Hluhluwe Game Reserve. As the rhino anti-poaching efforts have increased in the Kruger Park the poaching has moved to Hluhluwe.
“We are being hammered right now. Ironically Hluhluwe/Imfolozi is the reserve that saved the white rhino from extinction…”
Two poaching suspects have reportedly been arrested in Mpumalanga.
The fresh rhino carcasses – 8 in Imfolozi and 1 in Hluhluwe – were found without their 18 horns, leading to the assumption that more than one gang was involved, said News24 who confirmed the “mid-week massacre” with Ezemvelo on Saturday morning.
At least 89 rhino have been killed for their horns in KwaZulu-Natal this year.
Patrick has created this video which he hopes will be shared and raise awareness…
“It questions the very foundation of the problem,” he says. “It’s just a small contribution to the fight against poaching… but every little bit helps.”
Watch “Fake News Rhino and Insanity”
Produced by Patrick van Rensburg
