Suspected poachers in court

2009-08-21 19:31

Badplaas - Twenty suspects arrested in connection with poaching at a private Mpumalanga game reserve appeared in court on Thursday.

The suspects, 14 men and six minors, were arrested last month at the Nkomazi game reserve near Badplaas in a joint operation between Badplaas police and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA)'s anti-poaching unit.

Badplaas police spokesperson, Inspector Joel Zulu, said police received a tip-off that a hunting competition was going to take place on the reserve.

Police allowed the competition to finish before moving in on the poachers.

They arrested the suspects and confiscated 44 pedigree greyhounds and fox terriers, each worth between R5 000 and R25 000.

"Meat and three illegal firearms were also confiscated. The dogs had minor injuries," he said.

No specific target

Zulu said the poachers didn't target anything in particular, setting the dogs onto "anything that moved", including birds, small antelope, bush pigs and warthogs.

"We struggle with illegal hunting, which is very common in our policing areas," he said.

The confiscated dogs were taken to the Barberton and Nelspruit SPCA.

Nelspruit SPCA spokesperson, Margaret Nieuwenhuis, said the dogs had all received medical care for their injuries, were de-wormed and received rabies vaccinations form the state vet.

The suspects weren't asked to plead to poaching charges when they appeared in the Carolina Magistrate's Court.

The suspects, granted bail at a previous appearance, will be back in court again on September 18.

- African Eye