Rhino poaching surges in Zimbabwe in 2015: conservation group

The number of rhinos killed by poachers in Zimbabwe more than doubled last year to at least 50, a rhino conservation group has said.

Zimbabwe experienced high levels of rhino poaching in 2008 and 2009, but the country brought it under control in subsequent years, resulting in the lowest level of poaching in over 10 years in 2014 when only some 20 rhinos were killed, the Lowveld Rhino Trust (LRT) said in a 2015 poaching update.

"Unfortunately, 2015 saw a negative turn of events. LRT is aware of at least 50 rhinos that were poached in Zimbabwe in 2015, of which 42 were black rhinos," it said.

According to the organization, most of the rhinos were lost in Zimbabwe's Lowveld Conservancies where the rhino population is considered particularly valuable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Zimbabwe's engendered rhino population is estimated at fewer than 800 for both black and white rhinos.

Poachers have in recent years used cyanide to kill animals, including rhinos and elephants, instead of shooting which is usually easy to detect.

In 2013, more than 100 elephants were killed by poachers through cyanide poisoning in the country's largest wildlife sanctuary, Hwange National Park.

Last year, close to 60 elephants were poisoned in and around Hwange National Park.

LRT said although 2015 has seen more rhino poaching cases, it ended with some significant successes against well-established poaching syndicates in Save Valley and Bubye Valley conservancies.

Among those arrested was one hardcore poacher who, after decades of poaching activity, was jailed for 20 to 35 years. Endit