Rhino poacher arrested

The CEO of South African National Parks (SANParks), Dr David Mabunda, has announced that one of the Ranger Corps, based in the Kruger National Park (KNP), was arrested for suspected rhino poaching activities on 25 July 2011. The ranger was arrested after he was linked to previous rhino poaching incidents that took place in the Park.

“Internal disciplinary and criminal processes against the ranger will run concurrently and we hope for a speedy trial and believe that justice will prevail. Rangers are guardians and a key force in protecting these rhinos; those who do not aspire to these values should be flushed out and brought to book,” says Mabunda.

This year alone a total of 131 suspected poachers have been arrested around the country, of which 65 of them were arrested in the KNP. Since January this year, throughout the country, 15 suspected poachers have been killed and nine injured in clashes with authorities in the KNP.