LISTEN: Massive breakthrough in fight against rhino poaching
The South African
National Parks (SANParks) and the Hawks have arrested two suspected rhino
poaching kingpins.
The two men are suspected of trafficking trafficking rhino horns with a value of R1.5 million.
Both suspect have already appeared in court and were released on bail of R50 000 bail each.
The Hawks’ Johan Jooste says this is a massive development in the fight against poaching.
"These suspects were involved in the trafficking of the horns from the Kruger National Park to Gauteng areas where the horns would then get distributed to South East Asian countries."
Listen below:
The duo will back in court on July 13.
SANParks CEO, Fundisile Mketeni, says while the strides are being made in the fight against rhino poaching, there is concern over the rise in elephant poaching.
"We are predicting that towards the end of the year we would have lost 97 elephants due to the rate of the onslaught on animals. As of the end of May, we have lost 40 elephants."
Mketeni also confirmed that since the start of the collaboration with the Hawks, 23 SANParks employees have been arrested for alleged poaching.