Wilderness Foundation devastated at EC rhino poaching

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The Wilderness Foundation says as an organisation its devastated at the loss of the three rhinos at the Pumba Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.

This week's killings brings to six the number of rhinos poached at the Reserve in just over a month.

Foundation Marketing Manager, Cheryl Reynolds, says the poaching crisis is getting out of hand and emphasised the importance to stop the global demand for the product.

"The poaching crisis is really getting out of hand and its international crime syndicates that are really spearheading the poaching crisis. So, we need to find ways to successfully prosecute the poachers but more importantly we need to stop the poaching by trying to stop the demand for the product as well," she said.

Recently the Wilderness Foundation hosted two Vietnamese pop stars, Thanh Bui and Thu Minh, as part of their Forever Wild Protection Initiative.

In an interview with Algoa FM this week, Bui said, as ambassadors, they now want to spread the anti-poaching message to the Vietnamese people and to help demistify the myths associated with use of rhino horn.

He said the "whole world is looking at Vietnam."

Meanwhile, Reynolds says the Wilderness Foundation is offering a R50 000 reward for information that leads to the successful arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

She says members of the public can also contact the Wildlife tip-off line 078 696 9494.