Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Alf]

[Richprins]

HOEDSPRUIT: Balule teams bust three suspected rhino poachers
“No rhino loss with this incursion, and three suspects behind bars!”
8 hours ago





The three suspected rhino poachers that were apprehended.

Three suspected rhino poachers were apprehended on Balule Nature Reserve on Tuesday morning after a well coordinated effort between numerous anti-poaching, security, aviation and policing personnel took place through the night.

According to SAPS, they were arrested and suspicions are that they intended to poach rhino. They appeared in the Hoedspruit Periodical Court on Wednesday morning and will appear again on Monday, November 19. They were not granted bail.

They are to be charged with the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and trespassing. The three men were named as Lodrick Mashabane (26), Vusi Nkuna (32) and Eucant Ndlovu (34).



Some of the items confiscated during the arrest.

According to a statement from the Hoedspruit SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Livhuwani Mulaudzi, “The rangers were busy patrolling and saw some tracks and they followed them until they found three guys hiding in the bushes, where they were found in possession of food, their cellphones and one rifle round and later the police found one hunting rifle.”



The Chairperson of Balule Nature Reserve, Sharon Hausmann congratulated all involved parties on the successful apprehension of these men, “It is with incredible pride and elation that I wish to send this message of CONGRATULATIONS out to our Balule team who were without doubt the core of the success in the apprehension of the three suspected rhino poachers.”



The statement went on to read, “The wardens pulled together in a commendable effort which resulted in possibly the most successful anti-poaching operation yet in Balule. No rhino loss with this incursion, and three suspects behind bars!”

It is reported that one of the wardens, with the help of their canine tracking companion, were on the tracks of the suspected poachers for 42 kilometres. The success of the apprehension owed greatly to the cohesion between and determination of the wardens, anti-poaching teams and ops room personnel.

In addition, the following people were thanked by Hausmann for their instrumental roles in the arrests:

Hoedspruit Plaaswag, Hoedspruit Airforce, SA Wildlife College (Johan and his pack hounds), SAPS, Wild Skies Aviation, Flying4Rhinos and Tannie Jane from Plaaswag.

Hausmann concluded her statement with: “Onwards and upwards against this rhino poaching scourge, and today was proof of what can be done. Respect.”

https://letabaherald.co.za/58385/hoedsp ... -poachers/

[Lisbeth]

Without victims

[Lisbeth]

Conservation Canine Annie’s ‘marathon’ shift takes out three poachers

16 November 2018

The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Conservation Canine, Annie, and her handler, Colin, have struck again, with their efforts leading to the arrest of three suspected rhino poachers in Balule Private Nature Reserve, Limpopo.

In what may be one of the most exciting anti-poaching follow-ups of the year, Annie and Colin tracked through the night to secure this victory for wildlife. Suspected poacher tracks were found during a late afternoon anti-poaching patrol and Annie and Colin, with assistant, Mervyn and the EWT’s Canine Handler trainee, Shay were soon deployed on the tracks. They followed the tracks through the night and literally completed a marathon in pursuit of the suspects through the darkness.

This was not however, a solo mission, as the whole community assisted with the chase, including the Balule Regional Anti-poaching Units, the South African Police Service, and a large number of Hoedspruit Farm Watch members who closed potential exit routes. The operation was skilfully coordinated by the Balule Operations Room, and by daybreak, the suspects had been successfully contained within the reserve. With sunrise, air support could be brought in, and two fixed wing aircraft (Flying for Rhinos and Game Reserves United), the Wild Skies Aviation chopper, a gyrocopter, and the Hoedspruit Airforce Base’s Oryx helicopter joined the mission. The ground tracking team was joined by the Southern African Wildlife College Dog Unit’s pack hounds. This huge effort culminated in the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of a rifle with silencer and other poaching equipment. The poachers had done everything to try and deter Conservation Canine Annie, including covering their shoes in sponge and continually backtracking and circling to try and confuse her, but to no avail.



The EWT’s Conservation Canine Fury, who is trained to detect rhino horn, ivory, and ammunition, with the EWT’s Canine Handler trainee, Shay, searched for evidence at key sites. This is a shining example of how a community can stand together against the scourge of rhino poaching facing our country.

EWT Conservation Canine Annie and her team have been responsible for the arrest of no less than 12 suspected poachers this year alone, and her ability to operate at night with her handler is seen as a major step forward in the fight against rhino poaching. Annie is a four-year-old Belgian Malinois dog who is trained to track humans. She has been working with Colin since June 2018 and was trained at the Southern African Wildlife College with financial support of the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust.

The EWT is proud to be associated with such a dedicated team and salutes everyone who was involved in this well-coordinated effort in the dark, in Big Five country.

Conservation Canine Annie’s hander Colin is urgently looking for a chest-mounted GoPro camera in order to record this kind of operation, for training and law enforcement purposes. If you would like to donate one, please contact Ashleigh Dore on AshleighD@ewt.org.za

The EWT Conservation Canine Project is supported by US Fish and Wildlife Service, Royal Canin, MyPlanet Rhino Fund, Relate Trust, SBV, and several generous individuals.

[Richprins]

In Lowvelder there is an Afrikaans article about how one of the Malenois survived a lion encounter!

[Lisbeth]

( Malinois)

They are beautiful dogs

[Alf]

Stunning work

[Lisbeth]

Rhino poachers convicted and sentenced

2018-11-30 21:03
Ntwaagae Seleka

A joint investigation by the Lehurutshe stock theft unit and Madikwe Game Reserve's rangers yielded results when three men were sentenced for rhino poaching.

According to a police statement issued on Friday, the men were sentenced in the Zeerust Regional Court in North West on Wednesday.

Police spokesperson Captain Sam Tselanyane said the tireless efforts by members of the Lehurutshe stock theft unit and the Madikwe Game Reserve's rangers finally paid off when they arrested Jetro Moyagabo Malema, 44, George Itumeleng Thutlwa, 32, and Joseph Kgosietsile Tsiepe, 41.

The trio, along with Alfonso Alberto Balate, 44, was caught red-handed and arrested on June 24, 2017, at Madikwe Game Reserve.

"A search was conducted inside the park during the day and night which resulted in the arrest of two suspects who were found in possession of an unlicensed .375 firearm, homemade silencer and knives.

"During investigation, the team came across one injured rhino. Further investigation led to the arrest of one Etali lodge tracker and the local village chief, who was responsible for organising and accommodating poachers at the village," said Tselanyane.

Balate pleaded guilty and turned State witness and testified against the three.

He was sentenced to six years which was suspended for five years.

Cooperation commended

Malema was convicted on two counts of contravening the National Environmental Management Act, poaching an endangered species, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

He was sentenced to six years, while Thutlwa and Tsiepe were both sentenced to four years' imprisonment or alternatively a fine of R200 000.

Their sentences were suspended for five years on condition that they do not commit the same offence.

Thutlwa and Tsiepe were also ordered to pay R50 000. They arranged with the court to pay R5 000 monthly for the next 10 months starting from the end of next month.

All three men were declared unfit to possess a firearm. Consequently, Tsiepe was ordered to surrender his firearm with immediate effect.

The North West provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, lauded the police and game rangers for their cooperation that led to the arrest, conviction and sentencing of the accused for wildlife crimes.

Motswenyane said that the police working together with other relevant stakeholders and members of the community will show no mercy to criminals.

[Lisbeth]

Motswenyane said that the police working together with other relevant stakeholders and members of the community will show no mercy to criminals.

Then why do they get suspended sentences? Maybe because there was no proof of the rhino poaching even if they found an injured rhino Too easy though

[Richprins]

One can't take these Malemas anywhere!