Four rhinos, including one pregnant female, were found shot last night on Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve about two and half hours from Cape Town.
The scene at Inverdoorn Game Reserve this morning. Image: Inverdoorn.
An Inverdoorn press release says the rhinos were found at approximately 22h30 by an anti-poaching unit. The initial scene assessment found that two rhinos had already succumbed to their injuries, while the remaining two, although still alive, were heavily injured. They later succumbed to their injuries.
A fifth rhino was missing and tracking operations were immediately activated on the 10 000 hectare reserve while management, conservation teams, wildlife veterinarians, law enforcement and others were notified and dispatched to the scene.
Allegedly, large calibre rifle rounds were identified on the scene.
According to the press release the fifth rhino was found maimed but alive and a wildlife veterinarian team was dispatched to assess the injuries. They are considering facial reconstructive surgery as a matter of priority.
Owner of Aquila Collection, Searl Derman said that he is ‘horrified to relive this nightmare! As with our previous poaching incident at Aquila Private Game Reserve in 2011, we will again commit to sparing no expense or effort in the pursuit to catch and bring justice to these vicious perpetrators who massacred our rhino.’
Three of Aquila Game Reserve’s six rhinos were attacked by poachers on 20 August 2011. Two of the rhinos were dehorned and died of their injuries.
