11-year prison sentence for the hunting of rhino

LIMPOPO – In what the provincial police commissioner, Lt Genl Fannie Masemola has called sterling work, a 20-year-old man was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for the hunting of rhino.

Although no rhino was actually shot, killed or dehorned, the police found human tracks, a 303 rifle, as well as an axe.

“During May 2104 workers on a farm in the Makhado area spotted human tracks on the farm. They established that these tracks were following the tracks of a rhino,” said provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronel otto.

She said local trackers, together with members of K9 and a helicopter were summoned to assist with the search. Local helicopters were also used.

“Two people walking on the main road next to the farm were spotted by the police and were searched. The trackers were called and they confirmed that those were the human tracks that they were following. The police were able to lift a plaster of parish cast off the footprints they found on the farm and they were a match,” she added.

Both men were charged with illegal hunting of a rhino, trespassing and possession of an unlicensed fire arm and ammunition, but one of them died passed away during the trial, said Otto.

Masemola congratulated the investigating team and further stressed that continued operations by special teams would continue during the coming months.

“The police will use all resources available to them to track down would be poachers to ensure they are stopped and arrested before being able to kill the animals,” he said.