Thirty six suspected rhino poachers have been
arrested in the Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe Game Reserve in the
last three weeks. The arrests have been effected by the Rhino 8 Task
Team.
Brigadier Vish Naidoo, national police spokesperson, said since
the beginning of October to date, some members of the task team were
able to arrest the 36 suspects in the areas of Acornhoek, Calcutta,
Hazyview, Elukwatini and Skhukuza (Mpumalanga), Hluhluwe, Mtubatuba
(kwaZulu-Natal) and Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa (Limpopo).
During these arrests the team also confiscated four motor
vehicles including a VW Golf, a Ford Ranger Wildtrack, a Nissan Navara;
12 unlicensed firearms including rifles; a variety of ammunition,
silencers, a hacksaw, axes, knives, 27 cellphones and three rhino
horns as well an elephant tusk.
"Most of these suspects have since appeared in various
courts on charges of unlawful possession of firearm, unlawful possession
of ammunition, possession of dangerous weapon/s, trespassing, hunting a
protected animal, kidnapping, assault, possession of remains of a wild
animal, in terms of the Immigration Act for either being illegally in
the country/without proper documentation and/or possession of suspected
stolen property," Naidoo said.
He added that despite a multitude of arrests by the Rhino 8
Task Team, there still seems to be greater persistence by suspects
wanting to poach rhino. It is with hoped that the arrest of these 36
suspects would serve as a warning and deterrent to other potential
poachers.
"The strategies we have in place now are intended to
significantly reduce the chances of poachers. We applaud the communities
for their continued support in fighting this scourge. With this growing
help from the communities, the days of poachers are certainly numbered.
Poachers are warned that over and above facing criminal prosecution, we
are coming after their ill-gotten gains in terms of the Prevention of
Organised Crime Act," Naidoo said.
Total No of Rhinos slaughtered in South Africa to End of December 2021 = 451 Official figures. Note: the number of wild rhinos in Kruger has declined from 3,500 to 2,800 in one year. Read my blog below for Headlines from around the World concerning the Global Catastrophe that is causing the biggest mass extinction since the Permian Period, and News of the fight to stop the slaughter of the Planet's Wildlife before it is too late.
Sunday 29 October 2017
Thursday 19 October 2017
Tour operators launch a de-snaring program in the Serengeti
Tour operators have launched a 'de-snaring programme', which aims to fight the rampant snares set by local bush meat mongers to catch wildlife within the country's flagship Serengeti National Park.
The use of wire snares is a large-scale poaching method targeting wildlife species for bush meat, including the wildebeest. Snares are non selective and catch many other wild animals including elephants and carnivores such as lions.
The illegal use of snares is common throughout Africa and is partly responsible for massive declines in the number of wildlife. A knock on effect of this is that carnivores find it increasingly difficult to find food and turn to killing livestock. This conflict inevitability outrages pastoralists who kill the predators.
The project, which is being funded by tourism investors was inaugurated in Arusha, the country's designated safari capital, during the commemoration of 18th Anniversary of the death of Julius Nyerere.
The De-snaring Programme, which started in Mid-April, 2017 had so far managed to remove 7,331 snares. 384 animals were found trapped in Snares and about 100 were released alive.
For his part, Serengeti National Park Chief Warden, Mr William Mwakilema said that the park faces shortages of rangers to be able to effectively fight against illegal activities within the park. He estimates they need another 82 rangers.
Tanzania has dedicated nearly 30 per cent of its surface area of 945,203 square kilometers to wildlife conservation, but is under funded to police it properly.
The use of wire snares is a large-scale poaching method targeting wildlife species for bush meat, including the wildebeest. Snares are non selective and catch many other wild animals including elephants and carnivores such as lions.
The illegal use of snares is common throughout Africa and is partly responsible for massive declines in the number of wildlife. A knock on effect of this is that carnivores find it increasingly difficult to find food and turn to killing livestock. This conflict inevitability outrages pastoralists who kill the predators.
The project, which is being funded by tourism investors was inaugurated in Arusha, the country's designated safari capital, during the commemoration of 18th Anniversary of the death of Julius Nyerere.
The De-snaring Programme, which started in Mid-April, 2017 had so far managed to remove 7,331 snares. 384 animals were found trapped in Snares and about 100 were released alive.
For his part, Serengeti National Park Chief Warden, Mr William Mwakilema said that the park faces shortages of rangers to be able to effectively fight against illegal activities within the park. He estimates they need another 82 rangers.
Tanzania has dedicated nearly 30 per cent of its surface area of 945,203 square kilometers to wildlife conservation, but is under funded to police it properly.
Giraffe with snare round its neck. The snare
was broken off but could easily catch up again
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Two of East Africa's most wanted poachers arrested
Two of East
Africa's most wanted wildlife criminals have been arrested in Malawi for
their involvement in the illegal trade of ivory.
Brothers Chancy and
Patrick Kaunda of Malawi, who were the subjects of Interpol Red Notices
issued at the request of Tanzania, are suspected of trying to export
781 elephant tusks from Tanzania to Malawi without the proper permits in
2013.
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