'Spencer' had health problems

Spencer the rhino, who died under anaesthetic during an anti-poaching procedure, had lesions on his heart, his kidney and lungs, according to his autopsy.

Vets added poison, dye and a microchip to Spencer's horn at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in Kromdraai on Gauteng's West Rand on February 9.

Spencer was the 11th rhino at the reserve to have the operation on his horn. The 10 other rhinos were not harmed, but Spencer died a few hours after being anaesthetised - on the same day about 80 media members had been invited to view the anti-poaching procedure.

"Each of these lesions on their own would not have been uncommon in a rhino of this age. However, cumulatively they would compromise the health of the rhino," said Dr Charles van Niekerk, the vet who anaesthetised Spencer.

Van Niekerk said it was impossible to know that Spencer had problems with his liver, heart and kidneys as he appeared fine and ate normally.

Van Niekerk has operated on more than 500 rhinos, none of which have died from being administered an anaesthetic.

Another popular anti-poaching initiative is to dehorn the rhino, but this also requires that the rhino be darted with an anaesthetic.

Owner of the reserve Ed Hern said: "The truth is that, in this industry, losing animals under anaesthesia is not uncommon. Whenever an animal is immobilised for whatever reason, the possibility exists that said animal might not regain consciousness."

The reserve's marketing manager, Lorinda Hern, said because tourists visit the reserve to see rhinos, it cannot dehorn them. Staff also had concerns that dehorning rhinos would change their social behaviour.

Instead, the reserve adds poison to the horn but as there are no veins in the horn, the poison does not get into the rhino's bloodstream. Toxicology tests on Spencer showed no sign of poison in his system.

The reserve uses "aggressive marketing" on 200 signposts in four languages to tell poachers that the rhinos' horns have been treated with poison and dye.