Texas man arrested in South Africa after police say they discovered 26 rhino caracasses on his ranch | EUROtoday

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South African authorities have arrested a US nationwide after police say they found greater than 20 rhinoceros carcasses at his ranch.

Derek Lewitton of Texas was arrested on 22 December after they raided his ranch and located 26 rhinoceros carcasses together with 10 unmarked rhinoceros horns, ABC News stories. Police additionally stated they discovered seven unlawful firearms and ammunition, based on the outlet.

“From the helicopter the place looked like a slaughterhouse,” Provincial Commissioner of Police Major General Jan Scheepers instructed ABC News when describing the scene. “Everywhere you looked, rhinos were lying there dead.”

Authorities instructed ABC News they may proceed to go looking the property.

In addition to wildlife trafficking and firearms expenses, police have additionally charged Mr Lewitton underneath South Africa’s National Environmental Management Act for his alleged possession of the rhinoceros horns, per ABC News.

Mr Lewitton based and operates a rhinoceros reserve in South Africa along with his spouse, Xenja Lewitton.

“The family is responsible for hundreds of rhino on thousands of acres of wild African land – and has been driving change within the current conservation arena by helping governments and private reserves separate the true legal frameworks governing the potential trade in rhino horn from the misconceptions that currently block such trade,” the group’s web site reads.

The Independent has contacted the South African Police Department, Black Rock Rhino and a member of the Lewitton household for remark.