SKUKUZA – South African National Parks (SANParks) yesterday appealed to the South African public to support efforts by rangers to stop the massacre of our natural heritage by greedy poachers, who are promise wealth by syndicates.
This year alone, 46 rhino carcases have been discovered in the iconic Kruger National Park (KNP) which is bearing the brunt of the carnage. Six were from last year and 40 from the past 21 days of 2014. This has brought more resolve from the rangers corps to double their efforts to keep the species alive.
This weekend alone saw four armed contacts with rangers that resulted in the death of seven suspected poachers. Rangers confiscated four hunting rifles, ammunition, poaching equipment and a pair of horns. The death of the seven suspects brings to 11 the number of poachers killed in contacts with the rangers corps and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members in the KNP this year so far. During these incidences two suspected poachers were arrested and eight firearms recovered. These armed contacts take place during the night and present a high level of risk to members of the KNP rangers corp.
Well over 80% of the incursions are from the Mozambican side. Multiple incursions of up to 15 heavily armed groups operate in the KNP at any given time, especially during the full moon period. They operate in groups of four to six and are aggressive and engage and shoot at the rangers on sight, creating a daily life threatening situation. The recent recovery of a handgun at a contact scene suggests elevated levels of aggression from the poaching groups. This heightens the fear of losing a ranger to a poacher’s bullet.
Despite all of the above, the commanding officer of the rangers corp, Maj Genl (RET) Johan Jooste, is optimistic that his well thought out long term strategy will bear fruits. “We brought down the level of poaching incidents last year to 42.6% from 72.6% the previous year, we have also arrested 123 individuals in connection with poaching activities, it is now up to the prosecuting teams, investigators and the SAPS to conclude what we have started.
“We would like to ask the public, law enforcement agencies and our counterparts in Mozambique, to play their part, match the work that is being done by the rangers and we will reap the rewards and win this war,” concluded Jooste.
