Aquila's New Arrival

After a tense few months with poaching scares at Aquila as well as a week that has seen the first rhino lost to poachers in the Western Cape at a Mossel Bay reserve, Aquila has announced the birth of a baby rhino.

The calf is the third rhino born at Aquila and mother and baby are both doing very well, reported the reserve.
Under two hours from Cape Town, Aquila is now home to a herd of six rhino as well as a large variety of game and the rest of the Big Five.

Towards the end of last year Aquila experienced suspected poaching activities in the area, when at around 21h00, a helicopter flew suspiciously low approximately 25-50 metres over the reserve, making two passes at 15-minute intervals, and then disappeared. The chopper’s lights were off, except for one small red light, which could be seen, so it was assumed that the chopper was using night vision.
“These activities are a major concern to the owner of Aquila, Searl Derman, as this has proven to be the modus operandi of poachers practising in the major parks up north. Derman has taken necessary measures to keep his herd of rhino safe. He said that although he did not want to share too much detail on the measures taken to secure the rhino, these did include a 24-hour elite team of anti-poaching security staff and no expense has been spared to secure the latest equipment needed to complete the task.”

Guests visiting the reserve are able to see the new addition on the regular game drives and are invited to send any photographs to the reserve’s Facebook page.