The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for an independent wildlife management specialist to urgently review the future of Polokwane’s relocated rhinos.
The independent wildlife management specialist must conduct a cost and benefit analysis and provide recommendations in the best interests of both the rhinos and the Polokwane ratepayers.
This follows the removal of the rhinos from the Polokwane Game reserve to an undisclosed sanctuary in 2017 following poaching incidents. The council resolution was for this to be a temporary relocation, but 8 years later there are still no adequate upgrades at the municipal game reserve to safely house the rhinos.
Despite the cost of R61 000 per month, two rhinos have died at the sanctuary during April 2025.
Post-mortem reports suggest that the deaths are linked to Pica, an eating disorder caused primarily by a lack of phosphorus in the diet.
The rhinos are restricted to 50 hectares in the sanctuary and are fed additional bales of locally sourced grass. As far as we know no mineral (salt) licks are available to remedy the problem.
This unnatural situation of a high density of rhinos in an area where movement is restricted is not ideal.
It is clear that despite the municipality’s best intentions to safeguard the rhinos, it has not proved to be in the best interests of the rhinos or residents, who keeps footing the bill.
Eco-tourism can boost the local economy but it cannot come at the expense of animal welfare or ratepayers’ pockets. The independent report will guide the responsible way forward.