New approach against poachers pays off
2013-02-03 21:43
Skukuza - Despite the number of
rhino poached in the Kruger since the beginning of January, the South African
National Parks (SANParks) is happy with the number of arrests made after changing the style of their anti-poaching operations.
Rhino poachers took
advantage of the floods that ravaged the Kruger in the past two weeks,
braving extreme weather to attack rhino for their horns.
“To date, 57 rhino have
been killed by poachers in South Africa, with 42 of these in the Kruger
National Park in January alone.
"Of the 18 suspected poachers arrested since
1 January, eleven were arrested in the Kruger National Park and three were
fatally wounded,” said SANParks spokesperson Wanda Mkutshulwa.
SANParks chief executive
officer David Mabunda said the recent spate of poaching was characterised with
floods, thick vegetation, two weeks of a full moon and “incursions” of
suspected Mozambican poachers.
"We bled in December,
but as of 1 January there has been a change in strategy from a conservation
management system to greater law enforcement, and this is working. Our operations
are more militaristic. The number of poachers arrested has increased inside and
outside the Park.
"Despite the floods
that have left large parts of the [Kruger] inaccessible to vehicles and rangers
on foot, and totally destroyed the camp at Shingwedzi, the area was still being
patrolled with the assistance of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft,"
said Mabunda.
