Two rhino poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park on Friday shortly after two white rhinos were shot and killed and their horns removed in the Nwanedsi area of the park.
During the incident one of the suspected poachers was shot and wounded and is currently receiving medical attention in hospital. Two firearms, an AK47 and a .375 heavy calibre hunting rifle, as well as three rhino horns, were recovered during the combined South African National Parks (SANParks), South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and South African Police Service (SAPS) operation.
According to a statement by SANParks, this incident comes shortly after the successful prosecution of two rhino poachers, Frans Makamu and Solomon Mabuza who were arrested in separate incidents in 2010 for rhino poaching activities in the KNP. They were both found guilty of illegal hunting of rhinos and possession of illegal firearms and ammunitions on Wednesday, June 1.
The accused offered a plea of guilty in the Nelspruit Regional Court. Makamu, who was also found guilty of the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to 11 years, while Mabuza was sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Chief Executive Officer of SANParks, Dr David Mabunda, said: “As SANParks, we welcome the additional support of the SANDF and SAPS in addressing the current upsurge in rhino poaching in the KNP. The successful joint operation carried out on Friday as well as the recent sentences given to the two convicted rhino poachers will send a clear message to everyone that poaching of wildlife is not tolerated in this country”.
Mabunda said this, along with the upswing in arrests, both in the KNP and the country as a whole will have a positive impact on the current high incident rate of rhino poaching activities in the country.
At least 173 rhinos have been poached throughout the country this year, and 120 of those were in the KNP.
A total of 122 suspected poachers have been arrested around the country, of which 60 of them were arrested in the KNP.
Since January this year, throughout the country, 20 suspected poachers have been killed and 10 injured in clashes with authorities. Of this figure, 15 suspected poachers have died and nine wounded during contacts with rangers and soldiers in the KNP alone.