KNP announces a drop in rhinos poached in 2018
On Saturday, SANParks announced that 40 less rhinos had been poached in the first eight months of the year, compared to last year.
SKUKUZA – As part of their annual World Rhino Day celebrations on Saturday, SANParks announced the Kruger National Park’s poaching statistics for 2018 so far.
Between January and the end of August, a total of 292 rhinos had been poached, compared to 332 over the same time last year.
In contrast, poaching activities had increased in the same period, SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni reported.
A total of 167 suspects had been arrested by KNP rangers and police, compared with 114 last year. They also recovered 76 heavy calibre hunting rifles and ammunition, an increase from 58 in 2017.
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According to Mketeni, many of the suspects were arrested before they could kill an animal.
The hard work of the rangers and their support teams were marred by the death of ranger Respect Mathebula who was killed during a conflict with poachers in July. Mketeni stated that he was the first ranger to be killed by poachers since 1958.
“He was shot with an assault rifle which signifies a shift in the campaign and requires urgent intervention from all parties involved, including heavy sentences for illegal possession of rifles and ammunition, trespassing in a national park with the intention to poach and other related charges,” he said.
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The CEO commended the rangers’ dedication, skills and professionalism in the campaign against poaching. He also warned law enforcers and members of SANParks. “Let us honour the memory of Respect and do the right thing, by saying no to the temptation of being involved in criminality especially our colleagues in the Rangers Corps, SAPS and SANParks in general. You will not only embarrass yourself when the long arm of the law catches up with you, but your family, colleagues and the country as well,” he stated.
He called on communities, law-enforcement agencies and neighbouring countries to work together to stop rhino poaching.
SANParks are currently working on bolstering anti-poaching activities, maintaining intensive monitoring and the active management of wild populations. They also aim to intensify awareness and pressure to ensure criminals and syndicates involved in poaching are brought to justice.
“We need to step up the campaign against this onslaught on our natural heritage by criminal syndicates just as we saw in this weeks’ arrests of suspected local kingpins by the various law-enforcement agencies in Mpumalanga supported by SANParks and we look forward to their day in court, and if found guilty, that stiff sentences are imposed against them,” Mketeni stated.
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Two other suspected poachers were arrested in Standerton, also in Mpumalanga, during a police operation headed by the Hawks. The suspects tried to sell 19 rhino horns to an undercover police agent. They were scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
