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Four suspected poachers fatally wounded in KNP

25 Nov 2013

The South African National Parks (SANParks) rangers emerged on top last week in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The year-end spike in poaching activities kept the rangers SAPS and their Mozambican counterparts busy from Sunday, 17 November 2013.

Four suspected poachers fatally wounded in KNP

The activities both inside the KNP and within the adjacent areas to the west of the park and along the eastern boundary within Mozambique this week led to seventeen suspected poachers arrested and a further four fatally wounded in the park. The incidents occurred in various parts of the park including Kingfisherspruit, Crocodile Bridge, Lower Sabie, Letaba, Mooiplaas and in adjacent areas along the boundary.

Commenting on this week's activities, officer commanding, Major General (RET) Johan Jooste said this is a typical year-end spike and his men were prepared for it. He further explained that the suspects are more relentless "they don't only resist arrest but adopt an offensive and aggressive attitude when confronted by rangers who then have to defend themselves."

He congratulated his troops for their bravery and praised his SAPS and Mozambican partners for the successes obtained.

The arrests last week bring the total for 2013 to 117 individuals in the KNP. The KNP has lost 521 animals this year.