PRETORIA, Feb 18 (NNN-SANEWS) — The South African National Parks (SANParks) announced the arrest of four suspected poachers including a staff member in an intelligence driven operation.
The arrests took place on Friday in the Kruger National Park (KNP).
The four were arrested in an operation led by members of the SANParks Rangers Corps supported by SANParks Environmental Investigation Unit (ECI) and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The four arrested suspects were found in possession of a high calibre hunting rifle, two rhino horns, hunting equipment and were driving in two cars which have since been confiscated.
According to SANParks, investigations are ongoing and further arrests can’t be ruled out at this stage.
SANParks Chief Executive Officer Fundisile Mketeni explained that this was the result of an operation that was initiated to root out staff members who are colluding with outside people to poach animals in the KNP.
“We are very disappointed every time a staff member is arrested, it shows that we have wolves clothed in sheep’s clothing who are working against the organisation.
“I want to warn those who still think they can get away with this betrayal, your day is coming sooner than you think,” Mketeni said.
The suspects will appear in court in due course.
A total of 421 rhino were poached in the Kruger National Park, 16.5% less than the 504 poached in 2017, and one was poached at Marakhele National Park.
Between January and December 2018, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) obtained convictions in 78 of the 82 cases that went to trial.
The 78 cases involved 135 accused, all of whom were convicted of rhino poaching and related matters, and this translated into sentences of over 500 years imprisonment in respect of these guilty verdicts. – NNN-SAnews
