Helicopters, dogs, rangers and the eyes of tourists apprehend poachers
New anti-poaching strategy of SANParks is clearly paying off
SKUKUZA – The addition of aerial support and the use of canine units are paying off in the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) fight against rhino poaching.
A total of 22 alleged poachers have been apprehended in the KNP since the beginning of April. This brought the total of arrests since January to 56.
Park rangers, bolstered by additional aerial and canine support, managed to substantially improve the effectiveness of anti-poaching operations inside the park.
In a dramatic turn of events a week ago, SANParks rangers, supported by the dog unit, the SAPS reaction team and a helicopter donated by the Howard Buffet Foundation, caught two suspected poachers. This after tourists spotted armed men near Phalaborwa.
The team recovered a .458 hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment. Two sets of horns were also recovered during the arrests.
On April 22, rangers conducting anti-poaching patrols in the southern region of the KNP, came across signs of a group of poachers operating in the park and discovered a poached rhino with its horns removed.
The rangers immediately called the Joint Operations Centre in Skukuza for additional aerial and canine support. The newly acquired anti-poaching helicopter, along with a reaction team and tracking dogs, were immediately dispatched to support the rangers on the ground.
Shortly after the arrival of the reaction force, four suspects were apprehended, and rangers managed to recover a heavy-caliber hunting rifle, ammunition, hunting equipment and a fresh set of rhino horns.
Last month a second state-of-the-art Airbus AS 350 B 3E helicopter donated by the Howard G Buffet Foundation was put into commission. This brought the number to four helicopters available for anti-poaching operations in the KNP. The CEO, Mr Fundisile Mketeni, congratulated rangers on the recent successes, “SANParks, on behalf of all South Africans, wishes to thank our rangers and our partners in the SAPS and South African Defence Force for their dedication to this fight,” Mketeni said.
The anti-poaching strategy being developed by SANParks, makes the use of canine units and aerial support vital components in the scourge of poaching. “Given the increasing number of arrests, this strategy is clearly paying off,” said Mketeni.
