Staff at the game reserve outside Cape Town where four rhino’s were killed have been made to take polygraph tests as the hunt for the poachers intensifies.
Johan van Schalkwyk, of the Aquila Collection, said there has been some developments in the investigation at Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve.
The news of the bloody massacre, broke a day before SanParks had also confirmed that its rhino de-horning team discovered a badly mutilated female rhino in the Kruger National Park on Thursday.
Van Schalkwyk said four rhinos, including three males and one pregnant female, were found massacred in the Inverdoorn reserve.
Van Schalkwyk explained that the 24-hour Anti-Poaching Unit raised the alarm after they found the shot rhinos.
“The initial scene assessment found that two rhinos had already succumbed to their injuries, while the remaining two, although still alive, were heavily injured.
“The team acted fast as a fifth rhino was missing.
“Sadly the Anti-Poaching Unit soon confirmed the death of the two injured rhinos, while the fifth rhino was found the next morning being shot in the face but still alive,” he said.
Police have confirmed to Weekend Argus that the endangered animals were killed with high calibre and silenced rifles.
Colonel Andrè Traut, a police spokesperson said the Western Cape police had launched an investigation and search for the poachers.
Van Schalkwyk thanked the public who provided information about the poachers, and the police for their help.
“We are hoping for an outcome shortly and will communicate it further,” he said.
Van Schalkwyk said this was the first time the province had seen such a brutal attack on so many rhinos at the same time.
“Its truly a shock. Its devastating and its a crisis,” he said.
Owner of Aquila Collection, Searl Derman also confirmed the development, adding that they were expecting to have favourable results shortly.
“We have information and the information is exciting.
“The investigators are actively pursuing the criminals, and sadly, as with most rhino poaching incidents, the trend includes the provision of information from within the staffing compliment of private game reserves – including bribes – to gain valuable information.
“As a precautionary measure, this means that our local and national investigators are also interrogating our teams at all of our game lodges – and with the support of TPServices, we have polygraphed staff throughout the night to ensure we cover all possible angles and leads.
“However, at this point we are not in a position to provide any further detailed investigative information, but we can, however, state that we are hot on the trail of several potential poachers and we are expecting to make further positive announcements shortly,” said Derman.
Anton Bredell, provincial minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has expressed shock and outrage over the poaching incident.
“I am utterly saddened by this tremendous loss of our wildlife in the Western Cape and condemn this horrific incident in the strongest terms. This callous behaviour will not go unpunished, and I will support all the authorities involved in this case,” he said.
CapeNature’s chief executive Dr Razeena Omar echoed Bredell’s sentiment, saying they had zero tolerance for biodiversity crimes.
“CapeNature was asked to assist when this incident occurred. We will leave no stone unturned to assist in bringing the perpetrators to book,” Omar said.
CapeNature is also assisting the relevant SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units.