A month-old rhino calf has been rescued after its mother was allegedly killed by poachers at a private game reserve near Middelburg, highlighting the continuing threat that wildlife crime poses to South Africa’s endangered rhino population.
The incident occurred at UBhetyan-O-Africa, a private reserve located along the N11 Loskop Dam Road outside Middelburg in Mpumalanga.
Reserve management believes the adult female rhino was shot and dehorned sometime between 22 and 23 July. Following the attack, the calf disappeared, prompting an intensive search across the property.
The young rhino was eventually located at approximately 14:30, bringing relief to conservation staff who had feared it might not survive without its mother.
Reserve owner Deon Cornelius confirmed that the calf had been found alive and that arrangements were being made to airlift it to a wildlife rehabilitation facility believed to be in Bela-Bela, where it will receive specialist care.
Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) remain on the scene as investigations continue.
Reserve mourns loss of mother rhino
The tragedy comes less than a month after the reserve celebrated the birth of the female calf.
At the time, reserve co-owner Susan Cornelius shared the news publicly and invited supporters to help choose a name for the newborn.
She explained that the calf’s mother, Behati, was named after a word meaning “she who brings happiness”, while the calf’s father is named Owedru.
The loss of the mother has left the calf orphaned at a very young age, making rehabilitation and long-term care essential for its survival.
South Africa remains home to the world’s largest rhino population, but poaching continues to threaten conservation efforts despite intensified law enforcement and anti-poaching operations.
Police investigate possible connection to recent arrests
The poaching incident occurred shortly after police arrested two men during a vehicle stop on the N12 near the Phola/Ogies off-ramp late on 22 July.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, officers from Phola SAPS stopped a silver-grey Toyota Etios after its occupants claimed they were travelling from Mbombela to Johannesburg.
A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered two rhino horns, a hunting rifle and live ammunition.
The suspects were unable to produce valid permits for either the firearm or the rhino horns and were arrested on charges including illegal possession of protected wildlife products, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.
They are expected to appear before the Ogies Magistrate’s Court on 24 July.
Susan Cornelius believes that one of the recovered rhino horns may belong to the poached female from the reserve. However, authorities have not confirmed any link between the seized evidence and the latest poaching incident, and investigations remain ongoing.
The case once again underscores the persistent challenge facing conservation authorities as organised wildlife crime continues to target South Africa’s rhino population.
Source: South African Police Service (SAPS), UBhetyan-O-Africa Game Reserve