SANParks rangers arrested over rhino poaching‚ latest in a spate of arrests

20 June 2016 - 16:43 By TMG Digital

A poached rhino carcass‚ with horns removed‚ found in the Kruger National Park has led to the arrest of two rangers. The South African National Parks (SANParks) on Monday confirmed the arrest of the two field rangers at Nwanedzi Ranger Section of the Kruger for alleged involvement in rhino poaching.“The arrest of the two Field Rangers (on Saturday) was the culmination of an extensive follow-up operation conducted after a poached rhino carcass‚ with horns removed‚ was located by the Nwanedzi rangers on (Thursday June 16). The two suspected Field Rangers were detained at the Skukuza Police Station pending further investigations and appeared in court today‚” the CEO of SANParks‚ Fundisile Mketeni‚ said in a statement on Monday.This arrest follows the suspension of two field rangers attached to the Special Operations unit in Skukuza on 8 June 2016 and the arrest of a Field Ranger based at Satara‚ and a Technical Services supervisor based at Skukuza‚ on 9 June 2016.Mketeni said: “We are constantly on alert and that is what led to the arrests of these individuals.”“The suspensions and arrests are the result of ongoing investigations by SANParks into rhino poaching activities in the KNP‚ and we therefore would like to congratulate the KNP Rangers‚ SANParks Environmental Crime Investigation (ECI) unit and South African Police Service for doing a good job and remind them that this is a battle we cannot afford to lose.“We need to fight for our heritage‚” concluded Mr Mketeni...

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