THREE white rhino were shot dead by hunters in Dwesa Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast yesterday as part of a phased removal of alien species by the Eastern Cape Parks Board.

The news had raised rumblings of surprise and concern in the hunting and conservation fraternity yesterday, but the board‘s scientific services head Dr Dave Balfour said the decision to kill the animals had not been taken lightly.

White rhino populations have increased dramatically in South Africa due to sound conservation practices from about 50 in the early 1900s to about 11000 animals now.

“The decision to hunt them was only made as a last resort after the feasibility of capturing them had been discounted due to the difficult nature of the terrain and the unusual behaviour of the rhino in the area.

Dwesa is managed by the board, but the application to hunt and the permits issued were dealt with by the department of environmental affairs.

Despite reports that the permit for the hunt had not yet been issued, Balfour said this was incorrect, and the permits had in fact been issued.