Night-time curfew for theme park rhinos after warning on poaching

Staff at Flamingo Land, near Malton, said they were taking the precaution to protect Zimba and Balu, a pair of male white rhinos who arrived at the park in December, over fears they may be at risk because of their valuable horns.

A general alert was issued to UK wildlife parks two years ago and police now say they have received a tip-off regarding a specific plot targeting the animals in south-east England.

Poachers in Africa regularly shoot rhinos for their horns, which are highly valued for alternative medicine in parts of Asia.

Rhino horn is worth £65,000 a kilo – making it more valuable than gold, cocaine, and heroin.

Ross Snipp, zoo manager at Flamingo Land, said: “We have 24-hour security at Flamingo Land and the building is as secure as we can make it but this new news is starting to become a very real concern and a danger for us.

“We are being extra vigilant and making sure we lock them away safely at night, which is a shame for them, because if they are running around in the yards and paddocks at night there’s an extra risk.

“The 24/7 security are making sure they do regular patrols around the zoo at night.”

Two animal parks in Kent have called for volunteers to help them carry out 24-hour patrols, while police have also stepped up surveillance.

Last month, the Duke of Cambridge urged a global conference on wildlife protection to do more to tackle the illegal killing of rhinos.