Rhino Poaching 2013

[Tshukudu]

[Penga Ndlovu]

428

[Toko]

DEA: Rhino poaching update 20 June 2013

The total number of rhinos poached since the beginning of the year has risen to 428. The Kruger National Park has lost 267 rhinos to poachers, while the number of rhinos poached in Limpopo increased by 15 to 45 in the past week.

The number of rhinos poached for their horns in North West since January 1, 2013, has risen to 48. A total of 38 rhinos have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal, 27 in Mpumalanga, 2 in the Eastern Cape and 1 in Gauteng.

A total of 122 suspected poachers have been arrested since January. Of these, 57 have been caught in the Kruger National Park. Five alleged receivers have been arrested.

On Sunday, Kruger National Park rangers made contact with a group of three poachers near Letaba. One poacher was wounded during the shootout and later died of his wounds. The other poachers managed to escape.

South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.



For media queries contact:

Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871

[Richprins]

Concerning is that Mpumalanga and Limpopo figures have almost reached last year's totals already!

[Flutterby]

[Penga Ndlovu]

430

Near Phalaborwa

Lourens Botha with a group of tourists nearly walked into them as they were shooting the rhino and hacking out the horn.

They had a very narrow escape.

This is an account by his hand:

"Thinking your Saturday morning's walk will be the same and normal as usual, but while having breakfast, overlooking the beautiful landscape, and then suddenly So many mixed feelings, going through your mind when you hear a loud gunshot going off, not far, really not far from you and your guests, and the reality kicks in, that your life is in danger. And while rushing back to the vehicle for safety, you just hear the sound of axe crushing through the skull of a rhino, that is scariest moment I've experienced in the bush today... R.I.P."




"

[Sprocky]

Not again!!!!

Now is the time for SANParks to wake up and CLOSE KNP for a few months. Remove all humans from the area, including staff and tourists. Let the Special Forces take control and be the only legal people in the park, anyone else found there should be dealt with in the necessary way! This has to happen soon, before a tourist is killed in this war.

This is the second time that Lourens has come across a poached Rhino with clients, this time the poachers were still busy, next time they might be less lucky and walk into the line of fire.

COME ON SANPARKS, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!!

[vinkie]

Terrible news...

[iNdlovu]

Maybe that's what it will take for the .gov to wake up. A sacrificial tourist is a cheap price to pay. I know this sounds absurd and callous, and I don't mean it, but things just can't carry on with no improvement. I am so disgusted with humans that I would choose one rhino over a thousand people.

I feel really sorry for the dedicated people fighting the war, they must get so disillusioned, and as a SA citizen who cares, my government is letting us all down....once again.

[Flutterby]

So sick of this!!