JOHANNESBURG – The Hawks on Thursday called on the public not to draw conclusions from their investigation into whether some game farm owners have been killing and de-horning their own rhino, while blaming it on poachers.
South Africa has lost almost 300 rhino this year, while anti-poaching efforts are being stepped up.
Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said they are busy investigating various allegations, but officials are not ready to discuss them.
“We do not want farmers to be painted with the same brush [as poachers].”
Officials would not be drawn into mentioning which provinces have been the most affected.
Several high-profile poaching cases are now underway.
Police have arrested 150 alleged poachers since January.
But despite this, the spike in the number of rhinos poached is yet to show any real signs of slowing.