Move rhinos far from road access

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ALL nature lovers are appalled by the awful slaughter of the four Lalibela Game Reserve rhinos ("Rhino slaughter", September 27).

They are a priceless national asset, a wonderful example of nature's prehistoric and clever adaptation to advantage themselves of their natural grazing and browsing habits. One can well understand the pain and distress of the rangers involved in this cruel and gruesome discovery.

One is bothered, however, by the report that all four carcasses were found within 500m of the busy N2 highway, a national road leading north, east and west. If so, it rather seems sensible to quarter these wonderful but endangered animals deep within the reserve, as far removed from boundaries as possible.

Mature rhinos weigh anything up to two tons and would not be easily moved, so they presumably died in situ. The further poachers have to travel over reserve property, the easier it should be to track and apprehend them before they read their targets.