The Natal 'MERCURY' reports:

"Conservationists warn that the estimated population of 20 000 white and black rhino would be in trouble soon unless poaching was brought under control immediately.

Over the past four years alone, close to 1 000 rhinos (roughly 5 percent of the total South African population) have been poached illegally.

From an average annual poaching rate of 10 to 20 animals a year a decade ago, poaching soared dramatically when 80 animals were killed in 2008, rising to 122 in 2009, 333 in 2010 and 448 last year."