KZN rhino dehorned to curb poaching

The decision taken with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife was carried out under the "Threatened or Protected Species Permits" issued by the Department of Environmental Affairs. 

According to Isimangaliso over 250 rhino killed by poachers in the last two and a half years in KwaZulu-Natal. 

A total of 30 000 hectors was covered in an operation that was completed this week. 

Isimangaliso Wetland Park's CEO, Andrew Zaloumis says dehorning is a management option for areas with high risk of poaching. 

He says the idea is that once the horn material has been carefully cut off, much like a toe nail, the rhino is immediately rendered “valueless” to poachers.

"The rhino poaching has changed over the last four or five years. Four or five years ago you had an incursion maybe in a park like Isimangaliso on a full-lit moon. Now we can have three or four incursions simultaneously in a section of a park. 

"So, poaching has upped its game. It's more skilled and aggressive and as poaching from Kruger National pars and other places gets defected it's often landing up in places like Isimangaliso because we're right on border areas of Mozambique," he said. 

(Photos: Sam Manclark)