KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife field rangers shot dead a hunting dog and arrested a 20-year-old poacher in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi (HiP)Game Park on Friday.
According to KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo, the rangers spotted five males accompanied by six hunting dogs near the fence in the Mkwili area.
Their movements were monitored and the men confronted when cutting through the fence at Nqutshini.
‘A poacher by the name of Thabani Ntshangase from the Masokaneni area was arrested, but his five accomplices escaped,’ said Mntambo.
Visitors to the park on the day took photos of what they believed to be ‘feral dogs attacking a wildebeest’. The photos were posted on the HiP Facebook page by Val Morley Lockhart.
‘The five dogs of the poachers did escape in the direction of the Bhejane Hide where the visitors reported the incident,’ said Mntambo.
The suspect appeared at the Mahlabathini Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Investigations are underway to trace the remaining suspects.
