South African poachers killed two rhinos in the Eastern Cape this week and slaughtered them for their horns on a high-profile game reserve, South African wildlife authorities said in a press statement. An elite police unit was called in after Monday's poaching report to investigate the shooting of the two white rhinos in the Amakhala Game Reserve near Grahamstown. The two murders have raised the number of poached rhinos this year to 270. The number of rhinos killed has more than doubled over the last year. In 2009, 122 rhinos were targeted around South Africa compared with 83 in 2008. One of the carcasses at Amakhala was found yesterday morning. The other was found on Thursday evening. About 7 rhinos have been killed for their horns in the Eastern Cape alone this year. The incident follows the discovery of 18 rhino carcasses at Letaba Ranch on the western border of the Kruger National Park. A high-level investigation was launched yesterday after animal census officials made the horrific discovery. The demand for rhino horn comes mainly from the East, where it is used as an aphrodisiac and in traditional medicines. Police spokesman Captain Ernest Sigobe said gamekeepers noticed on Monday afternoon that one of Amakhala's rhinos was missing. After a thorough search of the reserve the first carcass was found. The search was continued yesterday after another rhino went missing. Both animals had been shot. “At this stage it is not clear how the poachers gained entry to the game reserve,” Sigobe said. No arrests have been made. Eastern Cape Green Scorpions deputy director Jaap Pienaar did not want to divulge any information about the incident, but said his organization was also investigating the matter. Eastern Cape police chief Lieutenant-General Mpumelelo Landu said communities and the SAPS had to work together to curb rhino poaching. Elsewhere in South Africa, game rangers this week caught three suspected poachers near Pretoriuskop. 6 rhino carcasses were found in the northern provinces last week. BM
