129 people arrested for rhino poaching this year

A total of 129 people have been arrested for rhino poaching since the beginning of 2013, the environmental affairs department said.

Of those arrested, 58 were caught in the Kruger National Park, spokesman Albi Modise said in a statement.

On Wednesday, three people were arrested for rhino poaching, Modise said.

"SA National Parks has confirmed the arrest of three alleged poachers in the Lebombo conservancy area of Mozambique, following a joint operation involving rangers from South Africa and Mozambique early this morning."

During the arrest, a hunting rifle and other poaching equipment was confiscated.

Modise said 446 rhino had been poached across the country since the beginning of the year.

"The Kruger National Park has lost 280 rhino to poachers, while the number of rhino poached in North West has increased to 50."

A total of 45 rhino were poached in Limpopo, 38 in KwaZulu-Natal, 30 in Mpumalanga, two in the Eastern Cape and one in Gauteng.

Modise urged South Africans to report poaching.