Vet might be suspect in rhino drugging

December 13 2011 at 09:00am

Avery Carpenter

AS fingerprints of alleged poachers who darted two rhinos at the private Fairy Glen Game Reserve on Sunday are being analysed by a forensics team, owner Pieter de Jager believes it is likely that a vet is involved.

This is because M99, the super morphine drug believed to have been used by the poachers to dart the rhinos, is a strictly controlled drug administered only by vets.

The two rhinos were severely overdosed with the drug, which made their initial recovery even shakier. “They were like drugged people when we found them. Stumbling and unable to fight for their recovery,” said De Jager.

According to Novartis Animal Health, the manufacturer and distributor of M99, or etorphine, it is much more powerful than morphine. Because it is fatal to humans, veterinary packages always supply the human antidote as well as etorphine. When the rhinos were darted at Fairy Glen, the human antidote, called maxolene, was administered instantly as a temporary fix.

The South African Veterinary Association has said it will do everything in its power to find and prosecute any vets involved in rhino poaching incidents. While they recognise the problem, they also warned against prematurely blaming vets.

“Certain non-veterinarians have been known to obtain these drugs through illegal channels,” it said.

Last year, Dr Karel Toet and Dr Manie du Plessis, of a Nylstroom animal clinic, were arrested on suspicion of belonging to a rhino poaching ring.

A few weeks ago, a world-renowned game vet and former head of the Kruger National Park’s game-capturing unit, Dr Douw Grobler, was held on charges of illegally distributing M99. He was arrested outside Port Elizabeth and appeared in court in Pretoria.

No charges were put to him and he was released on R5 000 bail after the case was postponed to February for further investigation.

l Sapa reports that a suspected rhino poacher was arrested in the N’wanetsi section of the Kruger National Park, SA National Parks said yesterday.

SANParks and SA National Defence Force members came across three armed suspected poachers on Sunday afternoon, and a shootout broke out, spokesman Reynold Thakhuli said.

“This led to one suspect being wounded and arrested. The other two managed to escape back into Mozambique.”

A hunting rifle and four fresh rhino horns were recovered. One rhino carcass was found, while the second was being sought.

The man is in hospital under police guard and expected to appear in court soon.