Poaching Heartbreak: “Molewa, Ramaphosa This Rhino’s Blood is On Your Hands”

The Kragga Kamma Game Park (KKGP) in the Eastern Cape of South Africa is reeling after the brutal death of a rhino cow, Bella… for just 1 cm of horn! KKGP claims the “blame lies squarely with #EdnaMolewa and #CyrilRamaphosa”, and they are not the first to blame SA’s government.

The Park announced on Saturday: “The worst tragedy has befallen our family of rhino here… Our beautiful matriarch of 20-years-old was brutally slain by poachers on Thursday night… Unbelievably she, along with her other herd mates, were dehorned again just a week ago (their biennial trim), it’s beyond comprehension that she would be killed for a mere 1cm of horn… The full moon strikes again, a blood moon for KKGP.”

Bella’s young calf, Tank, has been wandering around ever since “lost and calling for his mom”… “it’s heartbreaking to see, and pitiful to hear his sad squeaks”.

Kragga’s Ayesha Cantor posted a heartbreaking video yesterday (see below), and said: “A lost and lonely little boy looking for his mom… it’s f**king devastating… ? #Tank.”

She added a message for Environmental Minister Edna Molewa and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa: “Look what you have done #EdnaMolewa and #CyrilRamsphosa! #rhinopatrol.”

Ayesha says it’s been a “brutal” few days, but today little Tank has been more “relaxed and close to his dad Chuck’s side.

“We are keeping a close eye on him and supplementing his grazing with some delicious (apparently ?) lucerne as he is no longer receiving his mom’s nutritious milk… Fingers crossed that he soon forgets the horror of all of this and regains his feisty little attitude.”

KKGP is optimistic that Tank will make it as he’s 16-months-old, which is not too far off from 24-months – the usual age that rhino are weaned.

Ayesha thanked everyone from KKGP followers to physical neighbours, rhino custodians and local policing agencies for their “enormous outpouring of heartfelt messages”. The sad news of Bella’s death was even published abroad in newspapers like The Daily Mail in the UK, which has millions of readers.

In a note on KKGP’s facebook page, the park said: “With so many people from all walks of life from all over the world trying and failing to keep our nation’s rhino safe, I can only say that the blame lies squarely with #EdnaMolewa and #CyrilRamaphosa – who it seems are more interested in keeping it friendly with the likes of #Mozambique and #China than protecting our country’s natural heritage.

“Our rhino are sitting ducks, there is not much more we can do… it’s a crying shame. #WhenTheBuyingStopsTheKillingWillToo #RIPBella”

In a photo in the note, KKGP says: “#EdnaMolewa #CyrilRamaphosa this rhino’s blood is on your hands. #RIPBella.” (See below.)

It’s not the first time rhino guardians have pointed the finger of blame at the Environmental Minister and the South African Government.

The late Louise Joubert, founder of SanWild Wildlife and Rhino Sanctuary who died in a car accident in April this year (two days after one of her beloved rhino was killed in a poaching incident), told SAPeople in 2015 that the government “cannot be trusted and obviously have a hidden agenda”.

She said if the government was serious about ending rhino poaching it would be more transparent and issue monthly poaching stats.

She also said: “If rhinos are to be saved, government will have to at least close the borders with Mozambique. No bail for poachers and a shoot on sight policy on private land and national parks without any fear of prosecution. At the same time China and Vietnam will need to be given the message loud and clear that their investment in South Africa may be in jeopardy as a direct result should their countries continue to mass slaughter our natural heritage.”

She said the SA government had no understanding of the species’ importance and to them “what is an animal’s worth in comparison to the millions of rands that stand to be gained by corporates, individuals and the business sector?”

Listen to heartbreaking video as baby rhino calls for its mom:

https://www.facebook.com/ayesha.copelandcantor/videos/10156794096718646/