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Number of slaughtered white
rhinos up to 33 September 03 2009 at 10:16AM The poaching war in the Kruger National Park intensified yesterday when SANParks revealed that seven more white rhino have been killed in the last few weeks. This brings the total number of rhino the flagship reserve has lost to poachers since January to 33. According to SANParks, all seven carcasses were discovered with the horns hacked out. Six suspected poachers had been arrested, and five illegal firearms seized. A fact sheet posted on SANParks website on July 27, says poachers killed 26 white and one black rhino in the Kruger in the first seven months of this year. It also shows a recent sharp rise in the number of white rhino poached in national parks and provincial protected areas around the country, with more killed over the past 18 months than in the preceding eight years. From 2000 to 2007, a total of 120 white rhino were killed nationally, while from January last year to the end July this year, a total of 134 fell victim to poachers. SANParks chief executive David Mabunda said it was alarming that of the 33 rhinos poached in Kruger this year, 28 were killed along its eastern boundary with Mozambique. Of the 14 poaching suspects arrested by park authorities this year, all were Mozambican. In July, Mabunda said more rangers would be hired. "Poachers must beware because we will seek them out, we will find them and they will be dealt with. "This is a war that we plan on winning." According to SANParks general manager media and stakeholder relations, Reynold Thakhuli, the fence along the Kruger's eastern border with Mozambique is down. - Sapa o This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Times on September 03, 2009 http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=143&art_id=vn20090903035154141C960833 |
