Rhino poachers struck again in South Africa during the World Cup, leaving a female rhino to die after slashing off her horns.
A female rhino miraculously survived a horrific mutilation by poachers who tranquilized her and used a chainsaw to remove her horns, with the blades cutting deep into the rhino’s skull.
She was left to die, and authorities believe the attackers kidnapped her one-month-old calf and took it way in their helicopter. (Update: The calf was not kidnapped, but later found dead of dehydration.)
The severely wounded rhino was found on the Tugela Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, between Ladysmith and Colenso.
Johan Geldenhuys of the Tugela Private Game Reserve said via The Independent that the rhino’s injuries are five to seven days old. She is currently being treated with antibiotics.
The vet estimated that the wounds were about five to seven days old, and felt that as the animal had survived and was still walking, there was a good chance of it pulling through. She has been treated with antibiotics to control infections – and as far as we know, this is the first time that a rhino has survived an attack like this.
Rhino slaughter surges in South Africa
Rhino poaching has escalated to a nearly unprecedented level in South Africa. Members of well-funded poaching syndicates appear to be entering the reserves via helicopter to spot the rhinos and then use tranquilizer guns to immobilize them.
Most of the attacks have been centered in North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Free State.
As investigators close in on these cases, they are finding that professional hunters, veterinarians, and conservationists are working with poaching syndicates to cash in on the lucrative illegal rhino horn trade.
Rhino poaching driven by demand for rhino horn ‘remedies’
Recent findings from the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC revealed that demand for illegal rhino horn comes from China and Vietnam, the world’s major end-use markets for so-called “medicines” derived from rhino horn.
Although rhino horn has been extensively analyzed and found to have no medicinal effect on humans, cultural myths and superstitions about rhino horn “remedies” persist in China and Vietnam.
While the smuggling and distribution of rhino horn is now believed to be the work of Vietnamese syndicates, the manufacturing of rhino horn “medicines” is apparently still handled by Chinese pharmaceutical companies.
A recent report, Effectively Utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine in Unexpected Event1, supported by a contingent of Chinese pharmaceutical executives, has encouraged the acquisition and accumulation of rhino horn, which is promoted as a “key drug” in accordance with “traditional Chinese medicine” beliefs. The paper states that although actual numbers are not known, “tons” of rhino horn are already kept in traditional medicine storehouses in China.
Sources: The Independent
1. Pei, H. (2009). Effectively Utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine in Unexpected Event. Strategic and Development Department, China National Group Corp. of Traditional & Herbal Medicine.
Photo: istock.com
See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.