Minister Molewa regretted the theft, but also notes that it is a sign of the seriousness of the scourge of rhino poaching and smuggling problem in South Africa, that is linked to illicit international wildlife trade. The minister has welcomed the police's investigation into the rhino horn theft and eagerly awaits the outcome of their probe. The minister has urged communities living closer to the parks to work together with the various law-enforcement agencies in the country to counter the ongoing scourge.
The minister is concerned that, four months into the year, the number of rhino poached for their horns has increased to 227.
Despite the increase in poaching, the minister also noted with appreciation the work done by various law-enforcement agencies that led to the arrest of 60 people since the beginning of 2013, 36 of them in the Kruger National Park. Minister Molewa has also urged all South Africans to work together with the police to stamp out the illegal killing of the rhino for their horn, urging all to take pride in the country's natural assets.
The number of rhino poached included a rhino cow whose carcass was found near Letaba in the Kruger National Park, while forensic investigators were combing the crime scene where a rhino cow and her calf were shot by poachers near Nwanedzi, in the central region of the park, two weeks ago.
A bullet casing from a .375 hunting rifle was found about 200 metres from the carcass of the rhino cow by forensic investigators, only metres from where the remains of her calf lay.
These deaths are among the 18 discovered by SANParks anti-poaching rangers recently, bringing the number of rhino poached in the Kruger National Park since January to 163.
A total of 20 rhino have been poached in North West, 18 in KwaZulu-Natal, 16 in Limpopo and 10 in Mpumlanga.
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.
