Private rhinos under siege

Though the police have intensified their anti-poaching operations in national parks, owners of private game reserves fear that criminals are moving in on them and their rhino.

On Friday, a pregnant rhino was killed at a private reserve in Gauteng.

Selomie Maritz, of the eBlockwatch Rhino Dream Team - a private network of individuals fighting poaching - said rhinos had been killed at the same reserve two weeks ago.

She and her team believe the remaining rhinos there are in grave danger and so would not identify the reserve.

Five rhino were killed at the reserve last year.

In Limpopo on Thursday the carcass of a bull was found at a private reserve, she said. A month ago, on the same farm, poachers killed a rhino cow and calf.

"They took the mother's horn and the calf's tiny horn, and even removed its toenails," said Maritz.

Private game owners are now constantly on edge.

On Saturday, two reserve owners in North West called the police when they saw a helicopter hovering near their rhinos.

Reserve co-owner Jacqueline Burger said: "We were very concerned; we are anxious all the time because of what is happening to these animals in South Africa at the moment.

"I immediately called the police and got in contact with Andre Snyman, of eBlockwatch, who tried to get more information on the helicopter.

"My husband then followed the helicopter, which eventually landed next door. My husband was about to beat [the pilot] up when it turned out that our neighbour had decided to take a trip with a friend."

Maritz said poachers often wounded rhinos and returned later to kill them.

The eBlockwatch Rhino Dream Team has identified several rhinos in "high-risk areas" and is moving them to a sanctuary but needs money to do so.

It costs about R18000 to relocate, DNA test, tag and fit one rhino with a transmitter.

In May, the government's National Joint Operational Intelligence Structure launched an operation to counter rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park.

This month, through the government organisation, two alleged poachers were arrested. Two other suspects appeared in court.

According to the latest statistics from SANParks, 178 rhino have been killed in South Africa this year.