More tragedy for South Africa’s iconic rhinos.

A rhino has reportedly been shot and killed today on a farm in Naboomspruit in Limpopo. This brings the death toll for South Africa’s rhinos to at least 233, although some estimates are now considerably higher.

The killing apparently occurred while the farmer and his workers were walking the grounds. They heard gunshots, but when they found the rhino, it was too late.

According to South Africa’s News 24, gunfire was exchanged with the suspects after the police arrived.

Our officers, together with the farmer and his workers searched the whole day. A shoot-out ensued between the police and the suspects between 17:00 and 18:00.

One suspect was shot in the hip; he was arrested and taken to hospital. He is under police guard. The rest are still at large.

Police are currently searching for the other suspects.

Illegal rhino horn trade driven by continued use of traditional ‘medicines’

The surge in rhino horn demand for use in traditional medicines is threatening to undermine decades of conservation efforts throughout Southern Africa.

Illegal rhino horn is in highly sought after for use in traditional medicines in China and Vietnam, despite the fact rhino horn has been extensively analyzed and contains no medicinal properties.

Research conducted by the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC found that most rhino horns leaving South Africa are being smuggled to China and Vietnam.

It has been noted that the spreading Chinese footprint has placed the demand for rhino horn perilously close to the supply, and counter poaching reports have also linked the increase in rhino and elephant killings to a flood of Chinese weapons in Southern Africa.

Source: News 24. “Rhino Shot in Limpopo: News24: South Africa: News.” 12 Nov. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2010.

Photo: istock.com

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Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. Besides writing Rhino Horn is Not Medicine, I am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, the Editor of Project Pangolin, and a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

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