Limpopo cracks whip on poachers

 

A total of 31 people have been arrested for alleged rhino poaching in Limpopo this year, provincial police said on Tuesday.

 

Colonel Ronel Otto said that during the arrests police seized 11 rifles, 128 rounds of ammunition, and several knives and axes.

 

Four rhino horns and two elephant tusks were also recovered.

 

Otto said the provincial stock-theft unit played a significant role in tackling poachers in the province.

 

"The escalating number of rhino which were being poached in the province prompted the provincial commissioner of Limpopo Lt-Gen Simon Mpembe to assign the stock-theft unit to crack rhino poaching syndicates," said Otto.

 

Last week, the environmental affairs department said that since the beginning of the year a total of 94 people had been arrested for rhino poaching nation-wide.

 

Spokesman Albi Modise said 44 people were arrested in the Kruger National Park alone, making it the most problematic area.

 

At the time Modise said 292 rhino had been poached since the beginning of 2013.

 

- Sapa