Police this morning said there did not appear to be a link between the moonlight slaughter of an adult rhino on a game reserve on Friday night and the arrest of three men the next day in nearby Grahamstown.
Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci told the Dispatch "there were no linkages so far" between the poaching incident at Bucklands Private Game Reserve and the arrest of three men in Grahamstown with rhino horn on Saturday.
She said investigations into both incidents are continuing.
The three men, aged between 27 and 45, are expected to appear in court today on charges of illegal possession of rhino horn.
Iain Stewart of Bucklands Private Game Reserve confirmed that an adult rhino called Campbell was "taken" by poachers on Friday night.
He said he was unable to talk to the Dispatch as they were still collecting evidence this morning.
A post on the Bucklands Facebook page said reserve staff were "rocked to their core" following the discovery that Campbell had been killed and dehorned by poachers on the full moon on Friday.
Stewart said in the post: "the sight of Campbell lying slain on the ground, the motive being pure greed, broke me."
The White rhino bull was discovered by Stewart with the help of a neighbours helicopter.
Trio to appear in court today following rhino horn arrest
Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci told the Dispatch "there were no linkages so far" between the poaching incident at Bucklands Private Game Reserve and the arrest of three men in Grahamstown with rhino horn on Saturday.
She said investigations into both incidents are continuing.
The three men, aged between 27 and 45, are expected to appear in court today on charges of illegal possession of rhino horn.
Iain Stewart of Bucklands Private Game Reserve confirmed that an adult rhino called Campbell was "taken" by poachers on Friday night.
He said he was unable to talk to the Dispatch as they were still collecting evidence this morning.
A post on the Bucklands Facebook page said reserve staff were "rocked to their core" following the discovery that Campbell had been killed and dehorned by poachers on the full moon on Friday.
Stewart said in the post: "the sight of Campbell lying slain on the ground, the motive being pure greed, broke me."
The White rhino bull was discovered by Stewart with the help of a neighbours helicopter.
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