Rhino shot in Limpopo

2010-11-13 21:23

Johannesburg - Another rhino was shot and killed in a farm in Naboomspruit in Limpopo on Saturday, provincial police said.

Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said a farmer and his workers were patrolling the farm when they heard gun shots just after 05:00.

"They went to investigate and they found a rhino dead after it had been shot."

Otto said the farmer informed the police and searched with his workers for the suspects while waiting for the officers to come.

"Our officers, together with the farmer and his workers searched the whole day. A shoot-out ensued between the police and the suspects between 17:00 and 18:00.

"One suspect was shot in the hip; he was arrested and taken to hospital. He is under police guard. The rest are still at large."

Otto said police were still searching for the rest of the suspects. More than 20 people have been arrested countrywide in separate cases involving rhino poaching since September.

At least 210 rhinos have been killed for their horns since the beginning of this year - up from a total of 122 poached last year.

Black-market demand for rhino horns has risen sharply as economic growth has spread through east and south-east Asia, where the horn is believed to have medicinal properties.

- SAPA