Rhino owner hits back at poachers

Quick thinking on the part of Searl Derman from Aquila Private Game Reserve and the Saving Private Rhino Initiative ,acting on a tip from a friend about the smell of ‘burning hair’ and the sound of grinding from a garage in an apartment block in Tableview, suspecting wrong doing and headed to the scene. Contacting the Hawks and SA Police on the way, he arrived at the scene with the authorities where they observed a white powder at the entrance to the garage door in question.

On investigation a number of elephant tusks, shark fin and various animal horns in different stages of manufacture were uncovered. The two Asian men have been arrested and the contents of their apartment and garages were sized. We await to hear the value of the haul which we have been told is in the millions.

Searl Derman said: ‘I am very proud to have been involved in this arrest however although a good day for conservation it is still a very sad day when you see 19 full elephant tusks been carried out of a garage and to imagine the pain and suffering of these animals.’