On Wednesday, 24 July, SANParks rangers based in the Houtboschrand section of the KNP, made contact with a group of three poachers, a shootout ensued and one poacher was wounded and arrested at the scene, unfortunately the other two managed to escape back into Mozambique. A .458 hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered.
On the same day in the Olifants section, SANParks rangers discovered an active poacher's camp with empty food cans.
In the third incident during the early hours of 25 July, a special operations team, supported by SANParks rangers from Shangoni section tracked down a group of suspected poachers and managed to arrest three who were in possession of two hunting rifles, an AK47 assault rifle with ammunition and an axe.
SANParks special operations head, Major General Johan Jooste (RET) congratulated his members and reminded them that this is a battle we cannot afford to lose: "We are in the full moon period, there are huge numbers of incursions, spoor and many other poaching-related activities that are keeping our members busy but we are confident that the gap is slowly closing in on the poachers."
Jooste said that the cooperation with other anti-poaching units like the SAPS and the SANDF is improving daily and bearing the much-needed results.
These latest arrests in the KNP bring the number of suspected poachers behind bars to a total of 67 since the beginning of the year.
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