You'd have to have a heart of stone not to be emotionally moved watching a rhino being dehorned.
When I got up close and personal with one of these sedated animals undergoing the process, I felt as if I wanted to reach out and assure it with a comforting hug.
Feeling its almost armour-plated skin reminded me of a tough World War II Sherman tank.
Like the Sherman, the rhino was armed with a formidable horn... but seeing that cut off was akin to watching a Sherman have its powerful 75mm main gun removed... leaving it almost defenceless.
As I watched the dehorning process in the dusty bushveld of the Pilanesberg national park, I was filled with anger, heartache and a desire to stop the process.
Unsurprisingly, tears were shed as the distinct smell of ivory after each dehorning became second nature and literally harder to get out of one's nose.
As horrible as the process is and beyond the proverbial bitter pill to swallow, it simply needs to be done to conserve the rhino population, while also giving the horn to those driven by money.
"We would rather see a healthy, dehorned rhino than a dead one," administering vet Gerhard Scheepers said, admitting that some 160 rhinos had been killed since the first poaching case in the Pilanesberg was reported 14 years ago.
The sight of seeing a dehorning, as much as it disgusts and angers, remains a sad and vital reality to prevent ultimate extinction.
Denne historien er fra August 07, 2024-utgaven av The Citizen.
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Denne historien er fra August 07, 2024-utgaven av The Citizen.
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'Musica' headed for SA
Cruising is just lekker. There is no other word or phrase that would really do it justice, hyperbole aside.
Museum of military history
Symbolic home of soldiers and veterans worldwide
Camping ain’t for sissies
It enriches, yes, but sometimes leaves you poorer
Boks are fully loaded
ERASMUS: NOT SCARED TO FLIP BACK TO HIS 7-1 BOMB SQUAD BENCH SPLIT
India draw first blood
Turning out against the global champions for the first time since they were edged in their memorable battle in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, the Proteas stumbled again last night as they were completely demolished by India in the first of four T20 Internationals in Durban.
Make-or-break for Bok five
The Springboks get down to business tomorrow in their opening game of their end-of-year-tour against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh and they will be gunning to get off to the best possible start. They will be eager to cap a magnificent year with a clean sweep on their tour to the UK. Ross Roche looks at a quintet of players that will be eager to seize their chance to impress on tour.
Some game-changing boxes still left for coach Rassie to tick
The Springboks take on Scotland, England and Wales over the next three weekends in Edinburgh, London and Cardiff respectively.
Jones wary of Dupont 'threat'
Evolving France face Eddie Jones' struggling Japan in the a November international today with superstar Antoine Dupont (above) making his first 15-a-side appearance for the hosts in more than a year.
Drafting Suaalii was never a risk
WALLABIES: FACING ENGLAND IS A HUGE 'OPPORTUNITY'
'Rusty' Azzurri not bothering Quesada
Gonzalo Quesada expects his Italy team to be ring rusty when they take on his home nation Argentina in the Azzurri's opening November Test match today, hoping to end a positive year on a high.