Poaching crackdown near Umtamvuna Nature Reserve in Port Edward
Nine poachers caught near Umtamvuna Nature Reserve last Sunday. Patrols are on high alert, report suspicious activity.
A joint anti-poaching operation led to the arrest of nine suspected poachers last Sunday, after they were caught on a farm near the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve in Port Edward.
The Misalinx Farm Watch unit first spotted the group entering the farm from the direction of the nature reserve. After an extensive search and pursuit, the gang of poachers were arrested along with 21 hunting dogs. The dogs were later handed over to the Lower South Coast SPCA.
Items recovered at the scene included four 12-gauge firearms, three unlicensed shotguns, and one shotgun without a serial number.
The men were handed over to Port Edward Saps and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for further investigation. Cases of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition have been opened.
Director of Misalinx Farm Watch, Jaco Pienaar, thanked all involved for their swift response and ongoing commitment to protecting local wildlife. He added that poaching incidents occur almost weekly in the area, posing a serious threat to the region’s biodiversity.
Roughly a week before the arrests, on Monday, June 16, a group of armed poachers managed to evade capture in the Port Edward farming area, despite rapid response by Misalinx Security.
According to Pienaar, they received a report from a local farm owner alerting them to poaching activity on the property. “On arrival, our units observed seven men, two armed with rifles, actively chasing a bushbuck on the farm. When approached, the poachers fled on foot and disappeared into the dense gorge of the neighbouring Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, making arrest impossible,” he said.
A search of the area confirmed the illegal hunting activity, as a male bushbuck, already poached and tied up, was recovered.
Misalinx Security has since stepped up patrols in the area and continues to work closely with local authorities and conservation agencies to curb further incidents.
The public is urged to report any suspicious activity near the reserve to Misalinx Security on 039 3191415 or 072 7234453.
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