KNP wins the fight against poaching, in parts
Elephant poaching has been reduced by 40 % across the northern parts of the Kruger National Park.
Sanpark's Regional Ranger, Tinyiko Kulele says this is attributed to an intelligence driven operation and the accessibility to information.
"The environmental monitors initiative and the ops Capricorn in the eastern part of the Kruger National Park are some of the projects that play an important role in reducing the number of poaching in the Tshinadzeni north."
According to Kulele, environment monitors inform them in time where to follow up and make arrests.
"We have a whatsapp communication on the eastern part of the park with the Mozambican rangers team and the Limpopo National Park. If there are any tracks they detect on the Mozambique side, they inform us through whats app and then we deploy rangers on the eastern boundary section in time. That is the one that is assisting us in terms of reducing the number of activities. We make deployment and arrests and sometimes poachers run away", says Kulele.
Last week, Sanparks rangers arrested three suspects in connection with elephant poaching.
Kulele says the suspects were heavily armed.
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"The suspects were apprehended with the support of Saps and the Rhino Aid Unit, who managed to confiscate a .375 rifle with ammunition", adds Kulele.
The suspects will appear in court as soon as police have completed their investigations.