Whilst conducting anti-poaching operations on 8 December, rangers in the Phalaborwa area of the Park made contact with a group of three suspected poachers. One of the suspects was fatally wounded during the contact, while the remaining two suspects managed to evade arrest. Poaching equipment was recovered on the scene.
During the early morning of 10 December, rangers on patrol in the Lower Sabie Section of the Park close to the Mozambique boundary, made contact with a group of three suspected poachers. During this incident all three poachers were wounded and arrested. They are currently in hospital under police guard.
In the latest contacts, during the early evening of 11 December, rangers on patrol in the Pretoriuskop Section of the Park spotted a group of three suspected rhino poachers. During the engagement and follow up operation one of the suspects was fatally wounded. A hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered at the scene. The remaining two suspects managed to make good their escape in the enveloping darkness.
In a second contact later the same night, rangers conducting anti-poaching operations in an area nearby, made contact with a different group of suspected poachers. During this incident one of the suspects was fatally wounded, while the other two managed to escape. A hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were also recovered on the scene.
There has been an increase in the number of contacts with suspected poachers in the course of 2014, with a total of 164 suspected rhino poachers having been arrested in the Kruger National Park since 1 January, 2014.
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communication
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli
General Manager: Media, PR & Stakeholder Relations, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999
Email: [email protected]
Paul Daphne
Head of Communications, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5072; Cell: 082 806 5409
Email: [email protected]