Poaching increases at Colchester Zoo-backed reserve (From Gazette)

Poaching increases at Colchester Zoo-backed reserve

11:00am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News By Will Lodge

THE conservation director at Colchester Zoo has reported a poaching crisis after visiting a Rhino programme in South Africa supported by the zoo’s charity Action for the Wild.

Rebecca Perry met section ranger Dirk Swart at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in August to see how the charity’s cash is being used at the black and white rhino conservation programme.

Action for the Wild has strong links with the Manzibomvu section of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve as it has donated over £50,000 to the programme since 2005 alongside European Zoos and Aquaria, Save the Rhinos Campaign.

So far this year over 380 rhinos have been poached and in 2011 the largest number of rhinos were killed in South Africa. Current figures for this year estimate around 515 rhinos will be killed in South Africa this year.

To find out more about or support the programme visit the charity's website.