FEEDS |

Army to fight Kruger Park poachers

Oct 23, 2009 10:54 AM | By Sapa

The Kruger National Park wants to use military patrols to step up the fight against poaching which has seen 94 rhinos killed across the country this year, says its chief executive.


Current Font Size:

Photograph by: Simphiwe Mbokazi

Related Articles

"We as a conservation agency and the public at large are paying a high price with these senseless killings of our animals, while some leader of a syndicate is winning the minds and hearts of ordinary and poor members of society to be on the front-line of these evil operations," said KNP chief executive David Mabunda.

"Discussions with the military are already at an advanced stage and an announcement will be made soon on the reintroduction of their patrols in the borders of KNP."

He was speaking at the pass-out parade of 57 new field rangers in Skukuza, who will work with law enforcement agencies to combat poaching.

"Since the beginning of the year, the country in general has lost a total of 94 rhinos, in which 38 were lost in KNP, seven in Gauteng, nine in Limpopo, five in Mpumalanga, 10 in North West, four in Eastern Cape and 21 in KwaZulu-Natal."

SA National Parks (Sanparks) rangers have arrested 22 poachers in several cases countrywide this year.

"Our cross-border operations which include patrols with members of the South African Police Service, and our counterparts in Mozambique have yielded huge successes," said Mabunda.

Also, Sanparks has invested R5.2 million in the fight against poaching.

"The funds allocated have been used to acquire amongst others motorbikes, bicycles, a bantam aircraft, to be used in patrols and high-tech night vigil surveillance equipment...

"We want to own the night as well, as these senseless fugitives tend to focus their operations at night," said Mabunda.

 Loading...

 or  to comment

Comments

Oct 23 2009 11:18:22 AM
Kunta_Kinte
user name
And don't forget the zimbos crossing illegally into this country.
Oct 23 2009 11:27:03 AM
august rain
user name
@Kunta_Kinte Exactly!

The Zimbos are the ones Braaing the renoster wors.
Oct 23 2009 11:45:52 AM
Kunta_Kinte
user name
Oct 23 2009 11:27:03 AM
august rain
renoster, LOL.
Oct 23 2009 09:07:35 PM
OMG_SA
user name
Can we get that Kenyan aristocrat to come and sort it out? He's quite accurate with his gun - has taken out two poachers on his own ranch. The South African Army could not do in a year what it took one whitey from Kenya to get right with just two bullets!
Oct 24 2009 02:46:51 PM
DDarko
user name
Just what we need more guns in the hands of untrained uneducated buffoons, in the game park.


Today's Topics