GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - In an attempt to save its rhinos from the hands of poachers, Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve outside Graaff-Reinet has dehorned all its rhinos - an extremely difficult decision that had to be made.

"Dehorning is a sad intervention but poaching is a reality," said reserve owner Iain Buchanan. "We need to make every effort as part of a multi-faceted wildlife management approach to save the much-loved and iconic rhino."

The specialised operation was led by veterinarian Dr William Fowlds, who said that rhino poaching in Mount Camdeboo during 2014 and 2015 left rhinos vulnerable to further attacks.

"It's heartbreaking for us to remove the horns, but it does deter the poachers from wanting to kill the rhinos and helps with our broader conservation practices," Fowlds said.

During the dehorning procedure, the rhinos were immobilised and made as comfortable as possible. They were also tagged with tracking devices. According to a local conservation manager, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, rhinos are fairly unaffected by dehorning. "They use their horns for self-defence, mostly against each other, because not many animals will take on a rhino," he told the Advertiser.

The source added that the horn, which primarily consists of keratin (a protein also found in hair and nails), is likely to grow back within three years.

He added, however, that dehorning may be a double-edged sword in larger reserves. "Often, almost out of spite, poachers will kill a rhino even if it doesn't have a horn so that they don't waste time following its tracks." Peter Chadwick,

Mount Camdeboo's Conservation Manager, oversaw the dehorning operation. "I have mixed feelings," he said.

"Although dehorning reduces poaching pressure on the rhinos and gives reserves time to set-up anti-poaching initiatives, it is a tragedy that these actions are necessary to protect innocent animals.

"The rhino epitomises Africa. It's part of our soul. If we lose the rhino, we lose a part of ourselves." 

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