A Kent animal conservation charity is supporting a campaign to dehorn hundreds of rhinos following an 'alarming' rise in poaching since the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Aspinall Foundation - which runs animal parks' Howletts, near Canterbury, and Port Lympne, near Hythe - is part of the 'Rhino Rescue 2020' project, believed to be the largest and fastest dehorning campaign ever conducted.

The project is a response to a rise in the number of animals being poached in Africa since March, in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Following a sudden drop in tourists in Africa due to travel restrictions, poachers have seized the opportunity to run rife across some reserves, gunning down the black and white rhino in areas previously protected by the presence of holiday-makers.

The vast number of job losses in the local communities due to the virus crisis is also understood to be contributing to a poaching surge.

After being approached by Rhino 911, which provides emergency helicopter rescue to rhinos injured or orphaned due to poaching and other injuries, the Aspinall Foundation will now assist in dehorning hundreds of rhinos.

The method is a broadly accepted anti-poaching intervention in Africa, which aims to reduce the reward for poachers.

A vet will sedate the animal, before using an electric saw to remove the horn, which is made up of keratin, the same as hair and nails.

It does not hurt the rhino and the entire procedure is done within 20 to 30 minutes.

Horns grow back in the space of three years and previous studies have shown that dehorning does not negatively affect the animal.

And the charity insists that the "decision has not been taken lightly" and was initiated by the park management authorities, who consulted with a wide range of industry specialists before this course of action was recommended.

Chairman of the foundation, Damian Aspinall said: "We’re absolutely shocked by this sudden rise in poaching.

"Dehorning a rhino is an absolute last resort.

"Though the process is painless and the horns begin to regrow immediately we would only take this extreme course of action were it absolutely crucial for the survival of the animals.

"The speed and brazen approach of these poachers has left us no choice, there has never been an emergency of this scale or level."

The entire project will be initiated and concluded in the space of 15 days, although the exact locations will be kept secret until the project has been successfully completed.

A team of roughly 40 will be needed at an estimated cost of £100,000 which includes paying for helicopters, specialist veterinarians and a team of expert rangers.

It is hoped the operation will enable the rhino population, consisting of hundreds of individuals, the opportunity to live without the threat of poaching for the immediate future, with an end result of the population increasing in numbers.

Dereck Milburn, The Aspinall Foundation’s regional director, added: "We’ve been monitoring the situation for some time.

"It's an extraordinary project in both its necessity and its scale - no conservationist wants to dehorn an animal unless it’s absolutely necessary, but drastic times call for realistic, proven measures and we and our partners believe that this is the best course of action to reduce the poaching of the rhinos."

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