/ 3 April 2012

Boozed-up poacher steals fake rhino horn

Boozed Up Poacher Steals Fake Rhino Horn

A wildlife poacher broke into an Eastern Cape game reserve and sawed off the artificial horn of a fibreglass rhino, Beeld reported on Tuesday.

Susan Lottering, co-owner of the Lombardini lodge near Jeffreys Bay, said she was surprised to find the mutilated statue, named Barendina, on the front lawn on Monday morning.

Lottering said the thief also broke into the lodge’s pub and staged a prolific drinking session on Sunday night.

She had called the police to lay a charge of theft.

Lodge co-owner Johan Lottering said the damage to Barendina was significant, and that it would have to be replaced.

“There’s no hope of rehabilitation,” he told Beeld. — Sapa