Rhino Files: New approach to combatting rhino poaching

SANParks ranger and police officials arrested for involvement in poaching

The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, the Hawks and SANParks have welcomed the arrest of a former SANParks field ranger and two SAPS members by South African National Parks (SANParks).

 

The arrest on Tuesday of the former SANParks field Sergeant and two police constables based at the Skukuza police station in the Kruger National Park was the results of a joint intelligence-driven operation between the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) and officials of the Kruger National Park.

 

Park rangers and the Endangered Species team of the Hawks were on their routine duties when they came across a black rhinoceros carcass in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday morning.

 

The team pulled a marked Skukuza police van over after receiving information. On searching the van, a person suspected of being a poacher, who was armed with a .375 hunting rifle and rounds of ammunition, was found. When the constables were asked about the man and the rifle, they could not give a satisfactory explanation and were arrested.

 

"The SANParks and SAPS officials who performed the arrests are congratulated for their outstanding work. The arrest sends a strong message that officials alleged to be involved in poaching will be arrested and face the full might of the law," said Minister Molewa.

 

The Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Simon Mapyane, applauded the team under the stewardship of Colonel Johan Brits for work well done.

Story courtesy of Politics Web

 

New approach to combatting rhino poaching

One tool in the fight against poaching is to use patterns-of-life analysis to root out poachers who blend in to local communities.

 

The poaching of wildlife, and especially that of rhinos and lately elephants, has become a major concern for authorities in Southern Africa. 

 

Poachers become part of the local scene and their criminal activities are disguised within the broader community. Thus, by hiding in the normal civilian information “clutter”, these non-traditional security threats are hard to find using traditional analytical techniques.

 

New methodologies based on intelligence-led approaches can now be considered to combat these illicit economic activities, according to Suritec. Activity Based Intelligence (ABI) has emerged in recent times as the most widely adopted method. By determining and tracking poaching syndicates’ actions and activities in time and space, they can be made visible.

Story courtesy of Defence Web