Cape Town - The number of rhino poached since the
beginning of the year has reached 367, the environmental affairs department
said on Thursday.
Spokesperson Albi Modise said the majority of these, 247,
were killed in the Kruger National Park.
"In the North West province 35 rhino have been
poached, 33 in KwaZulu-Natal province, 28 in Limpopo Province, 23 in Mpumalanga
province, and one in Gauteng province," he said.
A total of 114 arrests had been made in connection with
rhino poaching, of which 109 were alleged poachers.
SA National Parks (SANParks) spokesperson Paul Daphne
said the increased number of arrests of suspected poachers in the Kruger was an
indication that anti-poaching measures were working.
"Among the actions taken in the Kruger National Park
to combat rhino poaching have been the adoption of a military stance in
tackling rhino crimes, the deployment of an unmanned drone provided by Denel,
the deployment of two surveillance aircraft, and the use of tracker dogs,"
he said.
Ranger shot
On Monday, Kruger game ranger Andrew Desmet was shot in
the stomach during an operation to apprehend suspected poachers.
The department said he remained in a stable condition in
the intensive care unit at a Nelspruit hospital.
"Water and environmental affairs minister, Mrs Edna
Molewa, has wished Mr Desmet a speedy recovery," Modise said.
