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The Star
Photo: Steve Lawrence
Twenty-one people have been arrested in connection with rhino poaching in South Africa in the past three weeks.
Eleven people, including two veterinarians, a pilot and a game farmer, all allegedly part of a rhino poaching syndicate, were arrested in Limpopo last month.
National police spokesman Colonel Vishnu Naidoo said it was believed they had been involved in several hundred incidents of rhino poaching, rhino killing, selling of the horns and disposing of the rhino carcasses over the past years.
They allegedly operated around Polokwane, Modimolle and Musina.
Veterinarian Karl Toet and his colleague Manie du Plessis were said to be the two alleged masterminds behind the syndicate.
All 11 were released on bail ranging from R20 000 to R1-million.
Another two men were arrested in Limpopo in connection with dehorning rhinos and the buying and selling of horns.
It was alleged that Jan Karel Pieter Els, 37, bought 36 rhino horns from Tom Fourie, 51, who allegedly dehorned the rhinos.
The men had appeared in the Musina Magistrate's Court.
Els was released on R30 000 bail and Fourie R5 000 bail.
A few days later three men were arrested inside the Kruger National Park by game rangers.
The game rangers came across the men walking around the park with rifles and allegedly in possession of two rhino horns while a carcass was found nearby.
They appeared in the White River Magistrate's Court and were granted R7 500 bail each.
Police were investigating the possibility that the men were part of a syndicate responsible for other poaching incidents in the area.
Last week five people believed to be rhino poachers were arrested in Ophathe Game Reserve near Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal.
The arrests were the result of months of investigating by a team of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife staff and police.
The group was expected to appear in the Ulundi Magistrate's Court this week.
The Ophathe Game Reserve had been plagued by rhino poaching with three rhinos killed and their horns removed in the past ten days.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife said the recent poaching of rhinos in the game reserve had bought the number of poached rhinos to 17 in KwaZulu-Natal this year.
South Africa has lost 210 rhinos to poaching since January, compared to 122 for all of last year.
Black-market demand for rhino horns had risen sharply as economic growth had spread through east and south-east Asia, where the horn was believed to have medicinal properties.
Wildlife monitoring group Traffic said the surge in demand, combined with endemic poverty in many rhino habitats, had helped to push rhino poaching to the highest levels in 15 years. - Sapa
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Michael, wrote
My simple solution - cut their "horns" off and sell those to China. They are the lowest and most despicable form of human life. Hope they rot in hell!
Liz, wrote
I cannot comprehend that a VET can be involved in this!!!! This boggles my mind completely - he should be HEALING animals, not SLAUGHTERING them. They should all be left out, unarmed in lion country.
Liz, wrote
I cannot comprehend that a VET can be involved in this!!!! This boggles my mind completely - he should be HEALING animals, not SLAUGHTERING them. They should all be left out, unarmed in lion country.
earthworm, wrote
So disgusted. It hurts that 'people' could do these cruel things to animals whohave no chance of understaning WHY. Do unto them as they have done to the Rhinos.
earthworm, wrote
So disgusted. It hurts that 'people' could do these cruel things to animals whohave no chance of understaning WHY. Do unto them as they have done to the Rhinos.
earthworm, wrote
So disgusted. It hurts that 'people' could do these cruel things to animals whohave no chance of understaning WHY. Do unto them as they have done to the Rhinos.
thabo, wrote
Paul, wrote
With rhino horn fetching R1 mil each, the transgressors can easily bribe.... whomever. So good thing it's in the public press, so they can be monitored.
Anna, wrote
What is R5000 and R7500 to these guys - nothing! Their bail should have been R50 000. Let's see how far these arrest go, if anywhere. This trash will probably bribe the judge and be free in a matter of minutes. Watch this space!!
Anonymous, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
nothing will happen watch this space how did they get bail??? if no example is made of these people WE CAN FORGET ABOUT HAVING WILD LIFE IN TWENTY YEARS THEY SHOULD BE DEBALLED AND LOCK IN FOREVER
Wendy, wrote
Why did it take the government so long to wake up? In January we had already lost 69 rhino. "JAIL - NO BAIL"
Anonymous, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
Why is this trash allowed bail? They are all a flight risk. Keep them in the cages they deserve.
Marisa , wrote
They should put all these people in a cage with a bunch of rhinos, then lets see how brave they are without their guns. Absolutely pathetic!!!!
Anonymous, wrote
James, wrote
Surely there is an additive that could be injected into rhino horn so that when it is ground finely would still be present and able to make the consumer of the product violently ill? The news would soon get around that rhino extract is very unhealthy and the demand might die down. (Of course, there is always cyanide) Perhaps a trial shipment of horn powder should be directed to the far east.
don, wrote
these Rhino slaughtereers are a disgrace to the human race, and should be punished to the full extent of the useless laws, that are totally inadequate to protect the Rhino, pity they cant be dehorned as well, maybe they all have small penises as well. disgraceful
Anonymous, wrote
zanel, wrote
why do these scum get bail they then disappear and carry on with their crimes and then police have to find them the system does not work
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