Two suspected rhino poachers arrested
The arrests follow a tip-off from the local community in the early hours of Tuesday morning that two suspicious men were hiking outside the reserve
TWO rhino poaching suspects were arrested in the Nkangala area, 2km outside the Hlluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HiP), by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) members.
The arrests follow a tip-off from the local community in the early hours of Tuesday morning that two suspicious men were hiking outside the reserve.
The APU wasted no time in following up and found the men wearing bloodied clothes.
During questioning, the suspects admitted to poaching a rhino and led the APU to where they had hidden the horn.
This incident follows on the heels of a previous arrest made on Monday morning in the Makhamisa section of the reserve.
Ezemvelo APU members heard gunshots at around 1am on Monday and investigated.
The poachers saw the unit members approaching and opened fire, narrowly missing them. One suspect was wounded when the unit returned fire and he was later arrested.
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Another two poachers escaped. A .375 rifle, a silencer and 14 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the arrested man.
Ezemvelo CEO, Dr Mabunda, congratulated the unit on their recent successes.
‘These arrests prove that our anti-poaching unit has not lost hope in its war against poaching.
‘It would have been easier for them to be despondent by now, but they continue putting their lives in danger.
‘Information communities living adjacent to our game reserves continue to share with us has contributed immensely in our fight against this onslaught.’ said Mabunda.
To date 119 rhinos have been poached in the KZN province this year and 80 arrests have been made.
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