An orphaned South African rhinoceros, blinded by poachers, is back home and happy after receiving live-saving surgery.
Roccy the rhino was shot in the same attack that killed his mother when he was three months old.
He underwent surgery in early January at the University of Pretoria's vetinary hospital, AAP reports, and has since been returned to his native Elandela game reserve in the country's northeast.
Roccy's owner told AAP that the rhino's charater has changed.
"He's now less dependent on humans. He's now more and more acting like a rhino."
South Africa is home to an estimated 20,000 rhinos - between 70 and 80 per cent of the world's population.
It's thought that 448 of the animals were killed by poachers last year, 100 more than were killed the previous year.
Researchers say poaching is driven by demand in Asia , where the substance is used in traditional cures for fertility and cancer.
17 Comments
Time to start dishing out capital punishment to these poachers.
2 RepliesGood to see that he was to be put back into his natural environment. I just hope he doesn't fall pray to poachers again. Poachers should be strung up by the balls, covered in honey and flesh eating African ants.
ReplyThese poachers should be neutered without anaethesia!!!!
ReplyPoachers cater to demand. No demand no poaching!
Replyso sad that so many animals face death or mutilation to satisfy the needs of Asian countries.......
ReplyWhy cant they inject the horns with a deadly toxin that is harmless to the rhino, but is lethal to these asian r soles that wish to make themselves bigger and harder. Would be great if they could make a toxin to make it fall off.
ReplyRhino horn mmmmmmmmmmmmm yes that makes me so horny
Replythe asians just love bits and pieces from rare and exoyic animals, i saw a doco on the killings of manters just for their gills just because the asians think it cleanses their airways, their psychos, im not racist but they and others are giving us reasons to hate them
ReplyHOW LONG WILL THIS BE NEWS ???
ReplyJohn, it should be news for a lot longer than a flash on the computer screen. It's far more newsworthy than stupid rake thin celebs on the red carpet that are so far up their own bums. Yes there is a demand which the poachers cater for. It's sickening that asians believe that whatever they get from the poor rhino will make their tiny members bigger or more verile. gross. the poor rhinos become 80 percent or more blind when they lose their horns. They then become disorientated and...
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