JOHN Hume was so worried about losing his rhino to poachers that he cut off their horns and shaved the stumps to stop them from growing back.
But the tycoon, who boasts one of the world's biggest herds of privately owned rhino, now stands accused of abandoning a unique game reserve in Cape Town - where, neighbours alleged, the animals were starving.
Hume has a combined herd of over 700 rhino, most of them on his 6500ha farm in Mpumalanga.
But the tycoon, who has called for the legalisation of the trade in rhino horn, has come under scrutiny after closing down his Solole game reserve. He also sold 10 buffalo from the reserve - which he bought in 2007 from wildlife expert Lindsay Hunt - to alleged poaching kingpin Dawie Groenewald.
This week officials seized Groenewald's assets.
Neighbours were so concerned by the state of the remaining animals on Solole, that they started feeding them.
The 250ha reserve was once a popular attraction on a prime tourist route adjoining the Table Mountain National Park. But it fell into disrepair once Hume took over and is now closed to the public pending its sale.
Although Hume refused to answer questions, his lawyer, Izak du Toit, blamed the Cape Town authorities for forcing his client to sell the reserve, saying officials had refused to allow the tycoon "to develop Solole into an eco-friendly, green, up-market residential nature estate".
NSPCA spokesman Brett Glasby said he had inspected Solole after complaints about the condition of the animals.
He had then helped broker a deal between Hume and the Aquila Game Reserve - about 90 minutes' drive from Cape Town - which agreed to buy the animals and pay for their upkeep until the necessary permits were obtained.
Hunt, who started the reserve in the 1990s but sold out to Hume due to financial difficulties, alleged the tycoon had turned a wildlife dream into a nightmare.
"Solole is a mess. He took something ... in meticulous condition and just let it deteriorate. There were 6000 trees there, all on drip irrigation, and there were beautiful botanical garden areas that are now just sand. He didn't do an ounce of management."
Now the South African National Parks (SANParks) has stepped in, with a view to incorporating the reserve into the Table Mountain National Park.
Mike Slayen, manager of the Table Mountain reserve, said: "SANParks is in discussions with the owner ... The properties are viewed as a priority for consolidation into the park due to their important biodiversity and landscape value."
Lawyer Du Toit said the property would be put up for auction shortly.
Last year the tycoon called for the trade in rhino horn to be legalised, a move he said would destroy the black market and stop poaching. He has reportedly stockpiled 500kg of rhino horn.
But Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said the government would not sell the rhino horn it had seized from criminals.
Rhino Poaching: Setbacks
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Sprocky
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Some owners kill rhino - report
2012-07-19 09:25
Cape Town - Some rhino owners are allegedly dehorning or killing the animals, and then claiming to be victims of poaching, the Cape Times reported on Thursday.
Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela told the newspaper they were aware of allegations of rhino owners attacking their own animals, selling the horns illegally and then covering up the crime.
"We are not prepared to talk about these since they are at their very early stages," he said, refusing to confirm whether the Hawks were officially investigating these claims.
Three sources linked to the underworld, who could not be named, told the newspaper they knew of game farm and reserve owners who were guilty of this crime.
The owners were either desperate for money or had realised that selling horns was more profitable than keeping their rhinos.
On Tuesday, the environmental affairs department said 281 rhinos had been poached this year, mostly in the Kruger National Park. Police had arrested 176 individuals in connection with the crimes.
- SAPA
Cape Town - Some rhino owners are allegedly dehorning or killing the animals, and then claiming to be victims of poaching, the Cape Times reported on Thursday.
Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela told the newspaper they were aware of allegations of rhino owners attacking their own animals, selling the horns illegally and then covering up the crime.
"We are not prepared to talk about these since they are at their very early stages," he said, refusing to confirm whether the Hawks were officially investigating these claims.
Three sources linked to the underworld, who could not be named, told the newspaper they knew of game farm and reserve owners who were guilty of this crime.
The owners were either desperate for money or had realised that selling horns was more profitable than keeping their rhinos.
On Tuesday, the environmental affairs department said 281 rhinos had been poached this year, mostly in the Kruger National Park. Police had arrested 176 individuals in connection with the crimes.
- SAPA
Sometimes it’s not until you don’t see what you want to see, that you truly open your eyes.
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Flutterby
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Re: Some owners kill rhino - report
JOHANNESBURG – The Hawks on Thursday called on the public not to draw conclusions from their investigation into whether some game farm owners have been killing and dehorning their own rhino, while blaming it on poachers.
South Africa has lost almost 300 rhino this year, while anti-poaching efforts are being stepped up.
Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said they are busy investigating various allegations, but officials are not ready to discuss them.
“We do not want farmers to be painted with the same brush [as poachers].”
Officials would not be drawn into mentioning which provinces have been the most affected.
Several high-profile poaching cases are now underway.
Police have arrested 150 alleged poachers since January.
But despite this, the spike in the number of rhinos poached is yet to show any real signs of slowing.
South Africa has lost almost 300 rhino this year, while anti-poaching efforts are being stepped up.
Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said they are busy investigating various allegations, but officials are not ready to discuss them.
“We do not want farmers to be painted with the same brush [as poachers].”
Officials would not be drawn into mentioning which provinces have been the most affected.
Several high-profile poaching cases are now underway.
Police have arrested 150 alleged poachers since January.
But despite this, the spike in the number of rhinos poached is yet to show any real signs of slowing.
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Richprins
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Re: Some owners kill rhino - report
Why announce this? 
It won't be a deterrent, is probably a story made up by those arrested, and may give private owners ideas!
However, I doubt whether private owners would kill their animals and claim poaching...that is not a profit even with elevated horn prices!
They have been dehorning their own animals for years...it doesn't make sense!
It won't be a deterrent, is probably a story made up by those arrested, and may give private owners ideas!
However, I doubt whether private owners would kill their animals and claim poaching...that is not a profit even with elevated horn prices!
They have been dehorning their own animals for years...it doesn't make sense!
Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
Anti-poaching plane crashes
Anti-poaching plane crashes
2013-02-04 08:28
Ingrid Oellermann, The Witness
Durban - The fight against rhino poaching in KwaZulu-Natal’s game reserves has taken a knock as a result of a recent accident involving Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s anti-poaching light aircraft.
EKZNW spokesperson Musa Mntambo confirmed on Sunday that the Bantam “ultra-light” two-seater aircraft, donated to EKZNW less than two years ago, crashed in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi park on 25 January.
“The aircraft is badly damaged and currently cannot fly,” he said.
Mntambo said the aircraft, piloted by section ranger and pilot, Dirk Swart, experienced a technical problem in the air and had to make a forced landing.
“The aircraft crash-landed in an acacia thicket in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi park. The pilot luckily was not injured and managed to call for help,” he said.
Mntambo said there was no reason to believe the plane was sabotaged in any way, but said civil aviation was investigating the crash.
2013-02-04 08:28
Ingrid Oellermann, The Witness
Durban - The fight against rhino poaching in KwaZulu-Natal’s game reserves has taken a knock as a result of a recent accident involving Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s anti-poaching light aircraft.
EKZNW spokesperson Musa Mntambo confirmed on Sunday that the Bantam “ultra-light” two-seater aircraft, donated to EKZNW less than two years ago, crashed in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi park on 25 January.
“The aircraft is badly damaged and currently cannot fly,” he said.
Mntambo said the aircraft, piloted by section ranger and pilot, Dirk Swart, experienced a technical problem in the air and had to make a forced landing.
“The aircraft crash-landed in an acacia thicket in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi park. The pilot luckily was not injured and managed to call for help,” he said.
Mntambo said there was no reason to believe the plane was sabotaged in any way, but said civil aviation was investigating the crash.
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Mel
- Global Moderator
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Re: Anti-poaching plane crashes
What a loss in material for fighting against the poachers , but at least the pilot seem to be alright. 
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things. Right now I'm so far behind that I'll never die.
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Jillinflorida
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Re: Anti-poaching plane crashes
I was glad to read the pilot was okay too. Maybe the plane can be repaired? Not sure how much damage was done to it.
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mposthumus
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DNA of 60 Rhino destroyed
Just received this from a friend. Pls. translate?!
Renosters: DNS van 60 vernietig
Buks Viljoen
Sowat 60 DNS-monsters van gestroopte renosters in die Krugerwildtuin is glo vernietig.
’n Sluier van geheimhouding oor die krisis is die afgelope week oor die voorval getrek.
Net enkele hoë amptenare van die Krugerwildtuin, asook uitgesoekte lede van die Valke, weet blykbaar daarvan.
Woordvoerders van die Valke en die wildtuin het ontken dat hulle van so iets weet.
“60 renostertonele sal (dalk) oorgedoen moet word,” lui ’n e-pos van ’n betrokkene wat Beeld vandeesweek onder oë gehad het.
Die skrywer van die e-pos se naam kan om veiligheidsredes nie bekend gemaak word nie.
Die stryd teen renosterstropery in die Krugerwildtuin kan ’n nekslag toegedien word as die belangrike DNS-monsters in die slag gebly het.
Die monsters is glo vernietig toe die koelkas afgegaan het waarin dit by kantore by die Skukuza-lughawe bewaar is.
Die monsters is ’n belangrike skakel in die vervolgingsketting om stropers in die hof mee vas te pen.
Die weefselmonsters word versamel op tonele waar renosters gestroop is.
Die polisie het ’n spesiale ondersoekspan aangestel om die vernietiging van die DNS-weefsel te ondersoek, het Beeld verneem.
Intussen is ’n forensiese span blykbaar ook ontplooi om met behulp van GPS-koördinate renosterkarkasse op te spoor om nuwe DNS-monsters te kry.
Beeld verneem betroubaar die moontlikheid word selfs ondersoek dat die koelkas met opset afgeskakel is.
Die vernietigde DNS-weefsels word ook gebruik om te bewys dat spesifieke renosterhorings wel uit die wildtuin kom.
Kapt. Paul Ramaloko, woordvoerder van die Valke, het gister gesê die bewaring van sulke DNS-monsters in yskaste val nie onder die beheer van die polisie nie.
Renosters: DNS van 60 vernietig
Buks Viljoen
Sowat 60 DNS-monsters van gestroopte renosters in die Krugerwildtuin is glo vernietig.
’n Sluier van geheimhouding oor die krisis is die afgelope week oor die voorval getrek.
Net enkele hoë amptenare van die Krugerwildtuin, asook uitgesoekte lede van die Valke, weet blykbaar daarvan.
Woordvoerders van die Valke en die wildtuin het ontken dat hulle van so iets weet.
“60 renostertonele sal (dalk) oorgedoen moet word,” lui ’n e-pos van ’n betrokkene wat Beeld vandeesweek onder oë gehad het.
Die skrywer van die e-pos se naam kan om veiligheidsredes nie bekend gemaak word nie.
Die stryd teen renosterstropery in die Krugerwildtuin kan ’n nekslag toegedien word as die belangrike DNS-monsters in die slag gebly het.
Die monsters is glo vernietig toe die koelkas afgegaan het waarin dit by kantore by die Skukuza-lughawe bewaar is.
Die monsters is ’n belangrike skakel in die vervolgingsketting om stropers in die hof mee vas te pen.
Die weefselmonsters word versamel op tonele waar renosters gestroop is.
Die polisie het ’n spesiale ondersoekspan aangestel om die vernietiging van die DNS-weefsel te ondersoek, het Beeld verneem.
Intussen is ’n forensiese span blykbaar ook ontplooi om met behulp van GPS-koördinate renosterkarkasse op te spoor om nuwe DNS-monsters te kry.
Beeld verneem betroubaar die moontlikheid word selfs ondersoek dat die koelkas met opset afgeskakel is.
Die vernietigde DNS-weefsels word ook gebruik om te bewys dat spesifieke renosterhorings wel uit die wildtuin kom.
Kapt. Paul Ramaloko, woordvoerder van die Valke, het gister gesê die bewaring van sulke DNS-monsters in yskaste val nie onder die beheer van die polisie nie.
what next 
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Sprocky
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Re: DNA of 60 Rhino destroyed
And they still claim that there are no staff involved in the poaching???? 
Why now would the big brass of SANParks keep this away from the public???
Mabunda, please show your "commitment" now and investigate this issue and bring to book those that are guilty even it is your own mother!
Why now would the big brass of SANParks keep this away from the public???
Mabunda, please show your "commitment" now and investigate this issue and bring to book those that are guilty even it is your own mother!
Sometimes it’s not until you don’t see what you want to see, that you truly open your eyes.