14 DAY TRIAL // By the looks of it, poachers are starting to run out of wild rhinos to slaughter. Hence their taking up the habit of hunting rhinos which live in wildlife parks outside Africa.
Long story short: it is being said that the several such animals currently living at two wildlife parks in Kent, England now run the risk of being killed and stripped of their horns by poachers.
The two wildlife parks in Kent allegedly targeted by poachers are the Port Lympne and Howletts animal sanctuaries, Mirror informs us.
As explained on several other occasions, rhino horns are believed to have medicinal properties, which is why they sell for whopping amounts of money on the black market.
Furthermore, some believe that they can be used to make aphrodisiacs.
The people in charge of said wildlife parks explain that they became aware of the poachers' plan to slaughter the black rhinos living in these parts of Kent after police officials contacted them and told them that, from what they know, such attacks would almost surely take place.
Conservationist Damien Aspinall, who helped established these two animal sanctuaries, told the press that, “In the light of what Kent Police have told us is a genuine threat, we will do everything to protect our herds.”
The two wildlife parks are now looking for volunteers who they hope will help them keep a close eye on the rhinos and make sure that poachers cannot gain access to them.
“Our volunteers will be recruited responsibly after careful vetting. Their presence will enable us to be vigilant and alert at every point at which the rhino could possibly come under threat. We would also ask that visitors report any suspicious behavior to staff and volunteers,” Damien Aspinall further explained.
Conservationists maintain that, as far as they know, this is the first time when poachers have decided to target rhinos living at wildlife parks in England.