During the operations, three heavy calibre hunting rifles, ammunition as well as various other poaching related equipment were recovered. The rhino poaching related arrests took place in three different sections of the KNP and were a joint effort by the SANParks Rangers, Special Rangers, K9 and Air support Units.
“KNP continues to experience a number of incursions and many other poaching related activities on daily basis. Our dedicated and committed anti-poaching teams, who are our ears and eyes in the bush are always out there to quickly respond. We call upon poachers to weigh the risks of getting caught and we assure them that the gap is closing in on them,” warned the KNP managing executive Glenn Phillips.
“Wildlife crime should not be tolerated and needs to be stopped; we therefore take this opportunity to urge community members to provide any information that may lead to the arrest and conviction of rhino poachers. The public can report criminal activities on either the KNP emergency numbers 0137350197 or 0768019679, Department of Environmental Affairs’ crime hotline 0800205005 or the SAPS number 10111,” concluded Phillips.
