The rhino crisis spreads to Swaziland.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, rhino poachers have reportedly shot and killed a white rhino in Swaziland. The tragedy occurred late Friday night in Hlane Royal Park.

Park officials were shocked to find the body of a female rhino between 10 and 12 years of age, with both of her horns removed. Her calf had not yet been located.

The Times of Swaziland notes that bail is not granted for the crime of murdering a rhino.

… due to the seriousness of such a crime, the Game Act only prescribed a custodial sentence for rhino poachers of five years and those involved in trafficking rhinos seven years with no fine option.

Swaziland’s Big Game Parks is offering a reward for information leading to the conviction of the rhino killers.

For additional details, see Rhino shot dead at Hlane Royal Park.

Warning signs

Just two months ago, authorities warned that the rhino killing epidemic could infect Swaziland, after seven people were arrested for illegally hunting animals in the protected areas of the Big Game Parks.

If the rhino crisis spread to Swaziland, the country’s small rhino population – 89 white and 18 black rhinos, as reported by TRAFFIC in 2009¹ – would be threatened with extinction for the second time.

There is also concern that recent efforts by human rights activists to curtail Swaziland’s zero tolerance approach to poaching is encouraging criminal activity in protected areas. To learn more, read the detailed account at Modern Day challenges facing Conservation practices within Swaziland on the Big Game Parks website.

1. Milliken, T., Emslie, R.H., Talukdar, B. (2009). African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade. CoP15. CITES Secretariat, Geneva, Switzerland.

Image: istockphoto.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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