NDLAMBE – A rhino cow and her two-year-old calf were killed and dehorned in a poaching attack at Kariega Game Reserve near Kenton-on-Sea in Ndlambe on 24 September.

The incident happened just two days after World Rhino Day on 22 September, when the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) highlighted the ongoing threat posed by rhino poaching in South Africa.

Distress alert leads APU team to rhino cow

According to police spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy, the discovery was made at approximately 17:10 after an automated distress signal was triggered by the cow’s GPS-enabled tracking collar.

He said an Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) member was conducting training exercises in the eastern camp when he received a WhatsApp alert indicating that the rhino had remained stationary for an extended period.

The member alerted the Kariega APU Section Head, after which a response team was mobilised.

“A team of seven APU members rushed to the rhino’s last known coordinates, proceeding on foot through the thick bush to locate the animal,” said McCarthy.

Calf also found shot and dehorned

He said when the team found the cow motionless, members initially clapped their hands to induce movement, but the animal did not respond.

“Upon closer physical inspection, team members discovered severe tissue damage and blood around the face and nose area,” said McCarthy.

He said the cow had been humanely dehorned earlier this year, but investigators found that the regrowth of her horn had been hacked off by poachers.

McCarthy said a subsequent sweep of the immediate area revealed that the cow’s two-year-old calf had also been shot dead and dehorned.

He said SAPS specialised stock theft and endangered species units, together with forensic experts, were summoned to the crime scene to gather evidence and ballistic data.

Police launch investigation into poaching attack

“SAPS are pulling out all stops to track down the poaching syndicate responsible for this double slaughter,” said McCarthy.

He said members of the public or neighbouring farms who may have heard gunshots or noticed suspicious people or vehicles in the area around 24 September were urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit an anonymous tip through the MySAPS App.

Kariega vows to strengthen rhino protection

Kariega Game Reserve announced the deaths on social media, saying it was “devastated” by the loss of the dehorned rhino cow and her calf.

“Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot share any more information,” the reserve said.

“Needless to say, we will use our anger to fuel the fight and to rise as a community to save this endangered species from further brutality and death.”

Following messages of support from the public, the reserve thanked those who had reached out after the incident.

“The loss of a rhino is devastating, but it strengthens our determination to protect these remarkable animals. Every rhino matters, and every effort to safeguard them matters,” the reserve said.

It said its teams remained committed to protecting rhinos and continuing the work undertaken every day to keep them safe.

“The investigation continues, and those responsible will be pursued through the appropriate channels and brought to justice,” the reserve said.

The reserve also thanked its staff, guests, conservation partners and supporters around the world for standing with it following the deaths.

“This loss will not weaken our resolve. It makes us more determined to protect rhino, strengthen conservation efforts and ensure their future remains worth fighting for,” the reserve said.

DFFE reports 230 rhinos poached in 2026

In a press release, the DFFE said on World Rhino Day on 22 September that South Africa remained home to the world’s largest rhino population.

At the end of 2025, the minimum national rhino population was estimated at 15,096 animals, comprising at least 2,565 black rhinos and 12,531 white rhinos.

This represented a 4.9% increase from 2024.

Despite the increase, the DFFE said rhino poaching remained a significant threat.

From January to the end of August 2026, 230 rhinos were poached nationally, compared with 248 during the same period in 2025.

According to the DFFE, five rhinos were poached in the Eastern Cape during the first eight months of 2026, compared with two during the corresponding period in 2025.

The department said every rhino lost to poaching was one too many, as poaching also resulted in the loss of breeding animals, the orphaning of calves and disruption to population recovery.

The DFFE said the fight against rhino poaching required a whole-of-society approach involving conservation authorities, law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, government and financial institutions, local communities, the private sector and the international community.

The department also said the implementation of the National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking continued to target the entire illicit value chain, from poachers to traffickers, financiers of criminal operations and those who profit from international trafficking.

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