14 Rhino poachers arrested in Kruger Park
Fourteen rhino poachers have been arrested in the Kruger National Park since the start of the weekend, SANParks said on Sunday.
"SA National Parks (SANParks) today announced three highly successful operations since Friday morning which led to the arrest of 14 suspected rhino poachers," spokesman Raynold Thakhuli said in a statement.
"This brings the total number of poaching suspects arrested in the Kruger National Park (KNP) this year to 113."
In a joint operation with members of the SA Police Service on Friday morning, SANParks rangers stopped a vehicle near Skukuza and arrested five suspects.
"A .375 hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment as well as a vehicle were confiscated in the operation. Later on during the afternoon of the same day, three other suspects were arrested in the Malelane area," Thakhuli said.
On Saturday, in the Punda Maria section of the KNP, shortly after sunrise, a joint SANParks and SAPS deployment, supported by the SA National Defence Force air wing, made contact with three suspected poachers.
"During the engagement, two of the suspects were seriously wounded and arrested while the third was arrested unharmed. The two wounded suspects were immediately taken to hospital where one later died of his injuries. The remaining wounded suspect is currently receiving treatment under police guard in hospital," Thakhuli said.
A hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were confiscated at the scene.
(File photo: Gallo Images)