Three counts of poaching in one week – and the toll keeps rising
Three separate incidents of poaching and smuggling have been reported in the last week, involving endangered species.
The carcasses of two rhinos were found in the Loskop Nature Reserve last week and an act of poaching is suspected. By the time game rangers stumbled upon the two carcasses, they were already decomposed, leading conservationists to believe that they were killed quite a long time ago. Brigadier Leonard Hlathi told www.mobserver.co.za, that they are currently following leads and no arrests have been made.
Last week Monday, a passer-by came across an ensnared male leopard on a farm in the Doornkop area. The passer-by reported his findings to a store owner in the area, after which Dr Nolan Landman from the Witbank Veterinary Hospital was called. Dr Landman, along with the help of Mr Deon Cornelius from Ubhetyan, tranquilised the leopard and rushed it to the animal clinic, unfortunately the leopard died on route.
Also read: Mozambican nationals involved in rhino poaching
Mr Cornelius told www.mobserver.co.za that after doing a thorough patrol of the area, he removed numerous snares from the bush. Mr Cornelius spoke of how snares are a common threat to animals and with a shortage of manpower in conservation teams, the clearing of snares remains an impossible mission.
A dead pangolin was found in the trunk of a car during an operation by the SAPS Endangered Species Unit. The vehicle was intercepted by the unit at the Ultra City on the N4 highway and three suspects were arrested. The suspects informed the unit that the pangolin was alive when they loaded it into their boot. The suspects were allegedly smuggling the pangolin from the Lowveld and were headed to Gauteng.
Also read: Poachers killed in shootout with police
According to Amy Attenborough, a conservationist at Londolozi Game Reserve, pangolins are one of the most smuggled animals of all the mammals. There are 8 different species in the world, four can be found in Asia and four in Africa.
The scales of a pangolin are in high demand in Asia and as a result, their numbers are dwindling. Poachers and smugglers are now targeting pangolins in Africa, to smuggle them for their meat and scales.
Eating the meat of a pangolin is seen as a status symbol in Asia and the meat sells for R4 987 per kg.
The scales of a pangolin can go from R8 550 to R14 000.
The pangolin being smuggled was to be sold for R20 000.
