Nine rhino carcasses found in KZN

394 rhinos have been killed in South Africa since the beginning of this year. (SABC)

Tags:

• Rhino
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Hluhluwe/Umfolozi
• Isimangaliso Game Park
• Animals
• Calf
• Ezemvelo Widlife
• Bandile Mkhize
• Poaching

Nine rhino carcasses have been found in northern KwaZulu-Natal today. The killings bring to 394 the number of rhino killed in the country since the beginning of the year, 46 of these in KwaZulu-Natal.

South Africa is home to the largest rhino population in the world and it's under heavy threat. Eight of the rhinos were found slaughtered in the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi and one at the Isimangaliso Game Parks. 

All the animals were adults - one leaves behind a one-month-old calf. KwaZulu-Natal Ezemvelo Wildlife’s Bandile Mkhize says: "I’m in a state of shock. Never has it ever happened that eight rhinos are discovered in one weekend. This has been a rude awakening for us."

Mkhize adds: "We thought we were on top of this rhino poaching issue but, it looks like the poachers are a step ahead of us. We can never allow that situation to prevail."

Ezemvelo has appealed to all South Africans to assist in addressing the poaching problem.  A march to raise awareness is planned in northern KwaZulu-Natal next month.