South Africa sends in the army to stop rhino poaching in the Kruger
26/04/2011 09:48:13
KNP Rangers, Veterinary Services and ECI team work around one of the rhinos marked with an electronic tracking device
'We have declared war on poachers' says Minister SisuluApril 2011. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) had been asked by South African National Parks (SANParks) to play a strategic role in the protection of South African National Parks, especially the Kruger National Park. The SANDF deployed to the Kruger where the park borders with Mozambique and Zimbabwe at the beginning of April 2011.
333 rhinos killed in South Africa in 2010
A total of 333 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa in 2010, including ten critically endangered black rhinos, according to national park officials. The yearly total is the highest ever experienced in South Africa and nearly three times the 2009 figure when 122 rhinos were killed in the country. An additional five rhinos have been lost to poaching since the New Year.
146 rhinos killed in the Kruger in 2009
Kruger National Park, the world famous safari destination, was hardest hit losing 146 rhinos to poaching in 2010, authorities said. The park is home to the largest populations of both white and black rhinos in the country. Rhino poaching across Africa has risen sharply in the past few years, threatening to reverse hard-won population increases achieved by conservation authorities during the 20th century.
4 arrests
The South African Minister of Defence, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, has congratulated SANDF for arresting four alleged poachers in the Kruger National Park. The Mozambican nationals were found in possession of hunting rifle, binoculars, axe and cell phones. They will appear at Skukuza Magistrate Court.
"We congratulate the SANDF members for arresting poachers. It has been 15 days since they deployed into the Park and we can see the results already. We will continue to work with the law enforcement agencies to secure our borders and to deal with rhino poaching", said Minister Sisulu.
"Our national parks are major assets, and we will protect them for the future and those who pose any threats to our animals will meet the full might of the law. We have declared war with poachers in all our parks," added Minister Sisulu.
The SANDF is currently deployed along the Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho borders. At the end of the financial year 2012/13 the SANDF will cover the entire over 4471 kilometres of land between South Africa and Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Lesotho.
Comment on the location and tell us what you saw there
Place a bounty on the heads of the poachers and anybody connected to this sick 'industry'....read 'dead'. Kill all involved.
Posted by: brucelanders | 15 Jan 2012 12:07:03
We have visited Kruger on several occasions over recent years, absolutely love the place. We are totally devestated to see these figures and losses. Thought that poaching was on the decline due to the various controls in place and not on the increase. Would like to see poachers shot on sight but agree with other comments, that it would help to trace back to source and take out the instigators. The present deterrents not severe enough, stronger action needed.
Posted by: mr and mr french | 31 May 2011 12:12:42
Poaches should all be summarily executed, but after they have revealed who pays them for these disgusting crimes, and n, go gt them.
I have been to South Africa several times, primarily to view the magnificent collections of animals at Kruger, and it is an awesome place. Only by making it clear to poachers they face death, not some silly court, willit ever end.
People who pay others to kill animals for their tusks, horns and gall bladdrs, ec. should have their scrotums removed,and mounted as trophies.
Go get 'em SA Army.
Posted by: Gerald Kruth | 03 May 2011 23:20:36
Compliments for the SA Government and SANDF! The Government for its vision; SANDF for its efficient work. For SANDF it seems to me an interesting possibilty for excercise in search and destroy missions.
Posted by: Frank Stavast | 30 Apr 2011 16:54:37
Th's is great news , as I previously stated poachers should be shot, but where possible forced to reveal who is paying them to go out and kill rhinos and elephants. In that way the people who organise this crime can be found and punished severely, and by this I do not mean that they just get a pat on the back.
Posted by: colin guest | 30 Apr 2011 09:58:43
Good thing what SA does. Why don't understand people not that the horn no health values has. The poachers are not the bad people, the people that buy the horn must they arrest.
Posted by: Bob Dijksen | 29 Apr 2011 16:02:32
I spent four incredible days in the Kruger a few years ago you have to stop the pachers by any means that you have.
Posted by: Ian Hardy | 28 Apr 2011 18:51:33
KILL THEM WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM! I AM SERIOUS. HATS OFF TO YOU. THANK YOU. KILL THE POACHERS. NO MERCY FOR THEM.
I AM GOING TO GO THERE ONE DAY TO PHOTOGRAPH THESE ANIMALS AND I WANT THE PEACE IN KNOWING THAT THEY ARE LIVING IN PEACE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS LIKE ME WHO WILL BE SPENDING MUCH MONEY TO ENJOY THESE PRICELESS WILDLIFE RESOURCES.
KILL THE POACHERS! THEY ARE STEALING FROM ALL OF US AND THEY ARE DOING IT IN A HIDEOUS AND PERMANENT WAY.....VERY, VERY SELFISH OF THEM. KILL THE BASTARDS!
Posted by: robert king | 28 Apr 2011 14:30:06
This could be great news..........if they actually do a good job and if they actually stay there.
Those countries’ national parks are irreplaceable assets........they either do what is necessary to protect and nurture them or face the permanent consequences of losing them. It is that simple.
HOORAY! HOORAY! HOORAY!
Posted by: robert king | 28 Apr 2011 14:25:28