203 rhinos killed in SA

The latest data on rhino poaching in the country reveals that the Kruger National Park remains the hardest hit, with 146 rhinos having been poached there since January.

In the latest incident at the park, a rhino cow had to be euthanized after it was badly mutilated by poachers a day after a SA Air Force (SAAF) helicopter crashed in the park, claiming the lives of all five soldiers on board.

The SAAF helicopter was participating in an operation aimed at halting rhino poaching on Saturday night when the incident happened. The cause of the accident is being investigated by the SA National Defence Force.

According to the department, on Sunday, SANParks rangers heard two shots and reacted with the support of the SANParks helicopter.

"During a brief contact, one armed suspected poacher was arrested. A .375 rifle and silencer were recovered. A badly mutilated rhino cow was found alive close to the scene of the contact. The animal was bleeding profusely from having its horns, entire mouth, tongue, nose and eyes hacked off and had to be euthanized."

The search for the alleged poacher's accomplice is continuing.

A total of 18 rhinos have been killed in North West, 17 in KwaZulu-Natal, 13 in Limpopo and 10 in Mpumalanga.

A total of 60 people have been arrested, 36 of them in the Kruger National Park.

The reduction in the number of arrests has been attributed to the fact that the case against nine alleged poachers, arrested near Lephalale in March, has been withdrawn in the local Magistrate's Court.

"This means that cases are being pursued against 11 alleged poachers in the province at present, and not 20 as previously reported. Three alleged couriers were arrested in February," the department said.

Fifty-six incursions by alleged rhino poachers were recorded by members of the KNP ranger corps between 21 March and 1 April 2013.

In the shootouts that ensued with poachers, one alleged poacher was fatally wounded on Sunday, while another was believed to have committed suicide on Monday after he was surrounded by members of the ranger corps.

South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.