Anti-poaching war trilogy – Part 2: Young anti-poaching warriors’ lives at risk
Col Lionel Dyck is fed up fearing for the lives of his young anti-poaching rangers. They go up against poacher gangs funded by influential syndicate leaders, holed up in an enclave on the eastern border of the KNP.
Anti-poaching war trilogy – Part 1: Slaughter could explode
MBOMBELA – “I have got the best men in the world working for me in keeping the rhinos safe, but without the Mozambican and South African governments’ support in this rhino war, I do not want to be part of it any longer,” Dyck told Lowvelder. “There are lots of other countries worldwide wanting the expertise of my outfit.”
Sandy McDonald, second-generation owner of the Sabie Game Park on the Mozambican side of the Greater Lebombo Conservancy, and Dyck have been pleading with the authorities to take action against the powerful syndicate bosses ruling the communities of Babtine, Curroman and the notorious so-called “poachers’ haven” in the small town of Moamba.
Wednesday morning’s incident was the final straw for Dyck. He came to a crossroad and now wants out – for the sake of his game rangers’ lives. It is the plight of his men, getting caught in the crossfire between the hostile local communities, ruled by mob bosses on the one side, and the well-armed poachers endangering the future of the rhinos on the other side, that he no longer wants to bear.
Despite the 11 charges of attempted murder registered with the Mozambican police, nothing has been done to date to arrest the culprits.
Two months ago DAG rangers chased poachers when one of them turned around and fired shots at them. The poachers were positively identified, but the authorities did not take any action to apprehend them.
In October 2016 two South African rangers found themselves in a life-and-death situation when a murderous crowd, among them a lot of poachers, started throwing rocks and taking out pangas.
A suspected poacher was arrested south of Corruman Dam and the two rangers joined up with a Mozambican ranger and an armed government official to escort the suspect to the police station when they were attacked, severely beaten and one of them hit over the head with a panga and stabbed in the neck. An off-duty policeman armed with an AK-47 rifle saved the ranger.
In March staff members of Sabie Game Park were abducted by a violent mob of community members and their vehicle seized as ransom. The local police were also intimidated and threatened with physical harm when they tried to intervene.
The mob claimed that a vehicle confiscated during an anti-poaching operation by DAG was damaged when it was returned to its owner. During the incident last year, the occupants of the vehicle fired upon the DAG patrol and one of them was subsequently arrested. The mob then insisted that a bribe of MT 100 000 should be paid for the release of the park employees held hostage.
Anti-poaching war trilogy – Part 3: Poaching kingpins on our doorstep
