When we hear stories about our rhino population being annihilated we can’t help but get worked up. Seriously, do you want to tell your children we USED to have these noble beasts roaming wild as they stare through the fence at a hemmed-in and disgruntled captive animal?

Thankfully there are people working around the clock to keep that from happening but they are fighting a losing battle at the moment. There were even cries for the military to help (HERE) and now we have had to resort to the least palatable option out there in order to try and curb the killing.

After recent poaching incidents at Mount Camdeboo, when a sub-adult male and full term mother were discovered dead and horns removed in the early hours of Tuesday March 3, they have been left little option but to dehorn the remainder the of rhinos in the area.

The property is one of the most remote game reserves in the Eastern Cape, if not South Africa, and was thought to be the last places that poachers would be able to access. We now know that these criminals are highly organised, well-funded and strategic in their planning of each poaching incident. Drastic measures had to be taken to protect these defenceless creatures.

The horn removal procedure was a success, with little strain on the rhino and the horns have all been removed from the property and safely stored under the guidance of the Department of Environmental Affairs.

Dr Brandon Tindall from Plettenberg Bay came to assist with the dehorning.

There may be in years to come pictures drawn by many children of rhinos with no horns and photographs taken of these hornless gentle rhino, but at least they will have the enrichment and memory of having actually seen one.

Security measures have been increased once again since this last poaching incident, and there is a standing reward of R150 000 for any information leading to an arrest that is associated with any rhino poaching incidents on Mount Camdeboo.

Mount Camdeboo appeals to the public to continue working together with them and a growing number of committed individuals who want to save these beautiful and very vulnerable animals.

You can get in touch with them via their Facebook page, website or on the number provided below.

Here’s hoping we can assist in nabbing whomever is responsible for the poaching and bring them to justice.