Two rhinos have been poached on a luxury private reserve on the outskirts of Port Alfred making it the second poaching incident, and third death in the area, in less than two weeks.
The latest poaching brings the rhino death tally in the Eastern Cape to seven this year.
Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve on the outskirts of Port Alfred was the latest target, with two rhino killed and dehorned by poachers between Wednesday night and early Thursday.
Authorities were still searching for a third missing rhino on the reserve on Friday afternoon.
Authorities have now appealed to reserve owners to establish anti-poaching units, either independently or in conjunction with other reserve owners, to protect their rhino.
Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said the two adults animals, a cow and bull, were last seen alive at 3pm on Wednesday.
The dead rhino were found by a game reserve employee on Thursday at 10am.
“Indications are that both animals were shot and both horns were removed, one cut off with a knife and the other hacked off.
"A third animal is still missing and the search continues,” she said.
Oceana general manager Chris Roberts declined to give details on the incident but said they were saddened by the incident.
Last week, a four-year-old heifer was found dead on nearby reserve, Fort D Acre Private Game Reserve.
Fort D Acre Private Game Reserve owner Rory Gailey said he and other rhino owners were extremely frustrated by the spate of poachings.
“I am very frustrated and angry. There is nothing else I can do to stop these poachers.
"They are just running amok doing what they want. It is such a massive security risk to keep these animals that several reserves owners are opting not to keep rhino anymore,” he said.
“People donate money to support the anti-poaching cause but I, and several others, who actually own rhino have never seen a cent from it.
"No game breeder that I know of in the Eastern Cape has ever received a cent from any save the rhino funding cause.
"We don’t know where this money goes but I can assure you that it is not to us.
"It has gotten to a stage where it is simply a liability to have rhinos. It is more worthwhile and safer to give them away.”
Gailey said he was considering giving the rhino away to another reserve that wanted to keep them.
“I have been keeping these animals here for about 20 years with no problems.
"Within two months of applying for permits from the department (of environmental affairs) to bring two rhino into my reserve, they get poached.
"All these permits were supplied by the department and only a handful of staff on both reserves knew what was happening.
"For several years I have managed to fly under the radar until I had to apply for the permits.”
Gailey said all neighbouring reserves were in a panic over the three poachings in less than two weeks.
“These guys are in the area, they are hiding here. All the reserves are wanting to dehorn their rhino but then you run the risk of being attacked for keeping the horn,” he said.
“The current system and level of threat does not make it viable to keep rhino.”
Eastern Cape Environmental Affairs compliance and enforcement director Div de Villiers said he was unable to comment on the incident adding that the police were handling all media queries.
In April, four rhinos were killed on two different Eastern Cape reserves.
Last year, 12 rhinos were killed in the Eastern Cape, compared with 19 killed in 2016.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga said investigators had combed the crime scene thoroughly for clues.
“Police remain committed in the fight against illegal wildlife trading and we also encourage Private Game Reserve owners and managers to establish anti-rhino poaching units or partner with the neighbouring reserves to establish these units to assist efforts of the police in the fight against rhino poaching,” she said.
All the rhino poaching cases are being investigated by the specialist Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit.
