Rhino poaching numbers on the rise
2013-01-23 22:18
Johannesburg - Thirty-two rhino have been poached in
South Africa since the beginning of the year, the department of environmental affairs
said on Wednesday.
"This brings to 18 the number of rhino poached in
the Kruger National Park for their horns. Six rhino were poached in North West
and five in KwaZulu-Natal since the start of the year," said spokesperson
Albi Modise.
Two rhinos were poached in Limpopo and one in Mpumalanga.
"The Kruger National Park figures includes carcasses
of rhinos killed in 2012, but were only discovered recently due to thick bush,"
he said.
He said 13 people have been arrested in relation to rhino
poaching this year.
"Six of the arrests were made in the Kruger National
Park during two successful operations, despite serious flooding, this past
weekend."
On Friday, special operations team members and rangers
arrested two alleged poachers in the Pafuri region, confiscating a .375 high
calibre hunting rifle and poaching equipment.
Four more poachers were arrested in the Tshokwane and
Nwanetsi areas.
Two of the suspects, who had been chased with the help of
air support, managed to flee into Mozambique, he said.
"Three rhino horns, a firearm and poaching equipment
were confiscated. During the follow-up investigation two rhino carcasses were
found with their horns removed."
- SAPA
