Rhino poached in Krugersdorp

July 14 2010 at 06:00PM

A female rhino was stabbed to death and had her horn removed in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve on Wednesday, said West Rand police.

"A rhino was found dead just after 10am and its horn had been cut off," said Warrant Officer Solomon Sibiya.

The rhino, which was found by employees of the game reserve, left a nine-month old calf behind which would be cared for by game reserve staff.

"We are investigating some positive leads in the matter," said Sibiya.

This followed the arrest of four men on Saturday after they were found with two freshly chopped rhino horns in the Kruger National Park.

Rangers found a newly killed rhino carcass with two missing horns.

Last week SA National Parks (SANParks) said 124 rhino had been poached so far this year.

Poaching levels were well below the annual growth rates of both white and black rhino, SANParks said. -

 Sapa