Rangers fighting more than just poachers

Information & discussion on the Rhino Poaching Pandemic
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Toko
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Rangers fighting more than just poachers

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Lowvelder: Rangers fighting more than just poachers

In April this year, the number of rhino killed by poachers in the Kruger National Park (KNP) stood at 166. Among increasing pressure from the South African public about the allocation of funds for SANPark’s anti rhino poaching efforts and plans to protect these animals, Lowvelder will, through a series of articles, investigate the complexities of Kruger’s rhino wars.
Susanna Oosthuizen | 11 April 2014 09:00

With almost 80 per cent of its conservation resources focusing on protecting its rhino, the Kruger National Park (KNP) ranger corps has to deal with more than just the poacher on the ground.Increasingly, in an effort to deal with the persistent attack on rhino within the park’s borders, rangers come into contact with local poaching coordinators; the so-called “level -two” operators.The first article in our series on Kruger’s Rhino War described the typical poacher (level-one) of rhino horn in the KNP.In this instalment follows a description of the players involved in the upper tiers of organised crime. With the death toll for these poached animals standing on 166 for 2014, it is imperative that law enforcement across all levels of crime be intensified.This was also the message at a recent international conference held in Pretoria, where representatives from Interpol and Vietnam agreed that more effort needed to be concentrated on eliminating corruption, and on ensuring more effective law enforcement.In 2012 and 2013 more than 80 per cent of arrests were of level-one operators only, indicating that a concerted effort is required to catch and prosecute those in the upper echelons of organised-crime syndicates.

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The type of law-enforcers across the levels

• Levels 1 to 2: Anti-poaching activities are coordinated by Operation Rhino joint operational centre (JOC) and involve rangers and SANDF. In May 2011, Operation Corona had almost 300 soldiers deployed for border patrols between South Africa and Mozambique. Currently no “hot pursuits” of poachers across the border are allowed, however, it may change when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed between the two countries later in April.

According to SANParks, it is not possible to determine how effective the deployment of troops has been because all operations are carried out with both rangers and soldiers, under the ultimate command of Gen Johan Jooste.

2014 (January-March) incident stats involving KNP rangers
- Discovered nine camps
- Had 20 contacts with poachers
- Encountered 38 border-crossings
- Had 20 sightings of poachers
- Found 198 sets of poacher tracks
- Fired on poachers 65 times

• Levels 1-4: Arrests and investigation must be done by SAPS (Hawks) and prosecution by the National Prosecuting Authority

• Levels 4: Customs officials, Interpol and local law enforcers deal with criminals on this level.


Arrest and convictions across levels

• In 2012 and 2013 more than 80 per cent of arrests were of level-one operators.A total of 343 poachers were nabbed in 2013, 133 of these in the KNP
• A total of 17 poachers have been arrested in 2014 in the KNP
• For 2013/14, the National Prosecuting Authority prosecuted 46 poachers (level one) vs seven dealers (Level 4)
• During the same period, 60 convictions included 25 foreign nationals (two Vietnamese, two Zimbabweans, one Congolese and 20 Mozambicans) of which 19 were imprisoned and six fined.
• One horn can earn a Mozambican poacher the equivalent of six years’ wages
• Rhino poaching is a schedule-one crime in South Africa which means accused have the right to bail.


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Re: Rangers fighting more than just poachers

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- Fired on poachers 65 times


:-) :-) :-)


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Re: Rangers fighting more than just poachers

Post by nan »

2014 (January-March) incident stats involving KNP rangers
- Discovered nine camps
- Had 20 contacts with poachers
- Encountered 38 border-crossings
- Had 20 sightings of poachers
- Found 198 sets of poacher tracks
- Fired on poachers 65 times


0*\ O-/


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Re: Rangers fighting more than just poachers

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nan wrote:2014 (January-March) incident stats involving KNP rangers



0*\ O-/
No, nana...that just means like a diary of ranger encounters...nothing sinister! \O


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Re: Rangers fighting more than just poachers

Post by nan »

:o0ps: sorry and thank you


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Re: Rangers fighting more than just poachers

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0/0

Thank YOU!


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Re: Rangers fighting more than just poachers

Post by Toko »

Here the next part of Lowveleder's series with some old stories re prosecution in Mozambique

http://lowvelder.co.za/142348/mozambiqu ... -poachers/


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Re: Rangers fighting more than just poachers

Post by Richprins »

I'm not so sure about the timeline there...probably protecting the source. It was indeed in the paper today.

It's a long story, but absolutely typifies the attitude from Moz. regarding poaching. Little has changed. 0*\


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