Poachers killed in Mkhuze Reserve shootout

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife says police are investigating a shooting in the Umkhuze Game Reserve in northern Zululand in which two suspected poachers were killed.
The two were caught on Tuesday, November 4, by four rangers who had been on foot patrol.
A shootout ensued leading to the suspects being killed.
None of the rangers were hurt.
A .458 caliber rifle with a silencer, a cane knife and two cell phones were recovered from the scene.
Ezemvelo’s Musa Mntambo says the action by the two shows poachers would go to great lengths including putting their lives on the line to achieve their objectives.
“In the past there has been poaching at midnight, but now they are poaching during the day. It’s very scary for us. It shows that now they have lost respect for law enforcement and they are prepared to kill whoever comes between them and them getting that rhino horn,” he said.
The incident follows a recent one which Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has welcomed where three suspected rhino poachers, were arrested and appeared at the Hluhluwe Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing charges of illegal hunting of rhinos and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
So far 79 rhino’s have been killed in the province this year.