Two more rhino's killed

Seabelo Modise

Another rhino and its calf have been killed by poachers at a private game farm in Brits, North West province.

It is alleged the owner of the farm heard three gun-shots and the sound of a chain saw during the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police discovered a female rhino with a bullet wound to the chest and one to the head while the calf had been shot in the head.

Both the animals’ horns had been sawed off.

The police's Mpeila Talane said that the suspects are at large and a case of rhino poaching had been opened.

Over 300 rhinos have been killed this year alone and efforts to halt the onslaught have not been good enough.

Chairman of the Private Rhino Owners Association, Pelham Jones said the fight to clamp down on poachers was dwindling.

“We do not believe we are winning the war against rhino poachers. Just take a look at the huge volume of police dockets out there. The poachers are winning this war.”

Jones added that the financial loss of losing a privately-owned rhino was astronomical.

“For investment purposes it is no longer considered an asset to own a rhino, but it has become a liability.”