A fast paced story of crime and cruelty to animals and humans all for monetary gain.
The romance of the African wilderness is overshadowed by the stark reality of rhino poaching and its impact on the species’ struggle for survival on this cruel continent. The vivid story takes place in modern day South Africa, where a syndicate is slaughtering rhinos and elephants for their horns or tusks.
This realistic and stirring story journeys into the darkest secrets of animal trading and the near extinction of a species. It depicts the brutal reality of poaching and what is at stake when animals disappear forever from the planet
Excerpt
Preface
In South Africa and its neighboring countries, rhino
poaching has reached epidemic proportions, and although
poaching has created horrifi c circumstances, there are two
sides of the story. Some people get involved in poaching
purely for fi nancial gain, but others are driven by desperation
and the harsh reality of survival in an unforgiving continent.
Th is story is a work of fi ction, but the harsh reality of the
brutality with which rhino are slaughtered for their horns is as
real as the sun shining down on the harsh African landscape.
If I can reach only one other person to share the impact of this
cruelty with and make only one other person aware of the fate
of the extinction of a species, then I have succeeded beyond my
wildest expectations.
Introduction
Dean Davidson looks out the window of his lush
apartment in London. His mood is as gray as the
weather as he replays the phone conversation he just had.
Th e bitter reminder that his farm was taken from him by
the Zimbabwe government is replaced by the thought that
blood was spilled in vain to prove that honesty and integrity
still rule. As the smog from the overcrowded streets rises up
to meet the dark blue sky, he feels the bitterness rising in his
throat like the too strong curry from Mr. Naidoo’s deli across
the street.
Slowly he starts to build his plan, a plan to take revenge
on Africa and all the pestilence that roams there. . . . He will
get his money back.
Chapter 1
The whirl of the chopper blades brush through the grass
like slow waves on the ocean, their golden crests dancing
in the sun. A rhino bursts from the dense undergrowth of a
Mopani tree and thunders down the low riverbank to draw
attention from her week-old calf hiding from sight. Her
stride is fl awless as she turns her head up to sniff the air.
The gunshot is not fatal but has wounded her enough to bring
her down, bleeding from the neck. Pango jumps from the
hovering chopper and strikes at the still-breathing head. Th e
rhino’s legs fl ail in the air as her broken spine fails to receive
signals from her small brain. Th e blood is warm and slippery
as it gushes from the cuts around the already cut horn . . .
Pango simply cuts deeper to gain that extra few grams of
horn that will push the price a few dollars. He is disgusted that
the arrogant farmer had the guts to have the horn removed by
the vet. It only made him mad. He would still kill any rhino,
regardless of whether it has a horn to off er or not, just to prove
his point. No rhino is immune from giving up its horn for the
hungry mouths he must feed.
A gray calf comes charging through the grass trying to get
to its mother. Pango swings around, thinking at fi rst he is in
danger. His fear boils over into violent rage as he strikes out
with his panga and nearly disembowels the calf. A high-pitched
shriek escapes from the calf as it stumbles away. Pango returns
to the rhino cow, and with a fi nal thrust of his panga, dislodges
the remainder of the horn stub. He smiles delightedly as he
shoves the bloody horn into his sling bag and runs to where the
helicopter is waiting. His white teeth shimmer against his black
skin as he gives a thumbs up to the pilot. Th e Robinson 44 lifts
into the sky. Th e pilot’s eyes hide behind dark glasses, and he
wears a content smile on his lips.
Pango looks down at the sight. He laughs from his belly as
he watches the letters carved with the carpet knife Patrick gave
him turn crimson. The message is clear.
“fuck you” the bold letters proclaim.
The farmers will learn not to dehorn their rhino even if they
have to kill some of the other farmers, but tonight there will be a
feast around Pango’s campfi re. Th e fi ve hundred Rand he will get
for this piece of horn will go a long way to get good and drunk.
Tomorrow is another day . . .
The calf slowly struggles back to his mother. He nudges her to
get up. Her breath is coming in labored gurgles as she slowly
suff ocates in her own blood. Her week-old calf, half its stomach
cut open, is doomed to die a much slower death.
Professional Reviews
Rhino Blood
Rhino-Blood by Dawie Botha - In these days of self-publishing, I discovered a book about poaching that was self-published in America and found the dialogue interesting, amusing and fluent, an amazing feat for a first-time author. The network of poaching described and the degree of corruption reflects the intricate, insoluble problem of poaching in the corrupt society of Southern Africa, including South Africa and Zimbabwe, and the international corruption networks.
The author has a gift for story-telling and interesting dialogue, and his descriptions reveal personal experience of, and delight in, nature.
The story moves at a fast pace and I had to make a list of characters to keep track of the plot and their movements. It was an enjoyable read as it sympathetically clarified the reasons for rhino-horn poaching and the difficulty of destroying international poaching networks as local law-enforcement takes part in the criminal activities and must watch their own backs before solving these crimes.
Mistakes in the text contribute to the atmosphere of authenticity created by a passionate author who needs to share his outrage and sadness, and the publisher did not do extensive editing, citing the same reasons that intrigued me.
The author’s flair for dialogue will enable him to continue in his new writing career, and I hope I will see more from him. I recommend this book for people who are interested in nature conservation and who enjoy books by Wilbur Smith and Hammond Innes.”
Marilese Koch - Principal LanguagePractitioner National Language Service - Foreign Languages Section
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