Rhino Poaching 2017-2025

[Lisbeth]

A rather disingenuous comment from the Minister

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

Borderline and I went in to Kruger today, and had a few wonderful experiences. An absolutely humbling one was coming across a ranger out of his bakkie looking after a wounded rhino, waiting for the vets. It sounds arbitrary, but this well-known senior stood in the sun for hours just watching and waiting, no questions asked, outside his bakkie obviously to make a clear presence known, which indicates the level of security that needs to be followed. In the old days the ranger would be doing normal ranger stuff. So hats off there.

I don't know what I'm trying to say, but maybe I've said it?

[Alf]

This ranger takes his job seriously and he deserves

[Richprins]

Ja, it is sort of demeaning in a sense, or maybe good? Obviously tourists asked him questions all day.

[Flutterby]

Had the rhino been wounded by poachers?

[Richprins]

Not sure...a hole in the neck and an injured back leg...

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

One rhino poached and another wounded at reserve in Cradle of Humankind
This is a reminder that rhino poaching remains a crisis.
21 hours ago

It is the one statement they hoped they would never need to release.

“One of our beloved rhinos was poached last night [28 March] and a second was wounded. The injured rhino has been darted and is being treated, and we are grateful that she will live,” a statement by the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in the Cradle of Humankind reads.

In their statement they mentioned how vigilant they are. “Because of our name, the public knows that we have rhinos in our reserve, which makes them vulnerable. On the other hand, one of the purposes of the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve is to make it easier for residents of South Africa’s most densely populated urban areas to see wild rhinos. Getting to share these wonderful, gentle creatures with the public is something all of us at the reserve care about very deeply, and we have decided that we will not let criminals stop us from doing something that matters so much.

“Yes, we are devastated. We are also angry. This is a reminder that rhino poaching remains a crisis, and that we will need to stay on constant alert if our children’s children are to have a chance to see one of Africa’s most iconic species living free. We will do everything we can to help the authorities to bring these criminals to justice.”

In the meantime, they are increasing security for the rest of their rhino herd, but cannot divulge any details that would put their animals at risk.”But we can assure the public that we will do everything in our power to limit any further poaching-related occurrences.”

https://krugersdorpnews.co.za/376543/on ... humankind/

[Lisbeth]