Almost 500 rhino's already poached in 2013
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Almost 500 rhino's already poached in 2013

Updated | By Anton Meijer

A freshly dehorned rhino was found dead in the Marakele National Park near Thabazimbi in Limpopo, SA National Parks (SANParks) said on Thursday.

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 A freshly dehorned rhino was found dead in the Marakele National Park near Thabazimbi in Limpopo, SA National Parks (SANParks) said on Thursday.

Field rangers following the tracks of three people found the carcass on Wednesday afternoon, SANParks spokesman Paul Daphne said in a statement.

Daphne said there had been no poaching in the park in the past two years.

"SANParks had put in place a number of enhanced security measures to prevent further rhino poaching in Marakele since the loss of a number of animals at the end of 2011," he said.

"We will continue to fight the battle against rhino poaching, and we will be implementing further measures in order to ensure greater rhino security."

Police were investigating.

The department of environmental affairs' spokesperson, Albi Modise said that the total number of rhino poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year has increased to 488 with 142 alleged poachers being arrested. 

The Kruger National Park has borne the brunt of rhino poaching since the start of 2013. A total of 300 rhino have been poached in the Park since January 1.  A total of 53 rhino have been poached in North West, 52 in Limpopo, 43 in KwaZulu-Natal, 35 in Mpumalanga, three in Gauteng and two in the Eastern Cape.   
 
Of the 142 alleged poachers arrested, 62 have been caught in the Kruger National Park and 30 in KwaZulu-Natal. A total of 27 suspected poachers have been arrested in Limpopo, 11 in North West province, nine in Mpumalanga and three in Gauteng.  Five people have been charged with being couriers. 

-Sapa/ Anton Meijer

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