Rhino update: 129 alleged poachers arrested

Image courtesy of James Barker / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

SANParks has confirmed the arrest of three alleged poachers in the Lebombo Conservancy area of Mozambique following a joint operation involving rangers from South Africa and Mozambique early Wednesday morning, 26 June 2013. A .458 hunting rifle and poaching equipment were confiscated.

Since 1 January 2013, a total of 446 rhino have been poached across the country. The Kruger National Park has lost 280 rhino to poachers, while the number of rhino poached in North West has increased to 50.

A total of 45 rhino have been poached in Limpopo, 38 in KwaZulu-Natal, 30 in Mpumalanga, two in the Eastern Cape and one in Gauteng.
South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines +27 (0)800 205 005, +27 (0)8600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.