Africa Wild

http://www.timeslive.co.za/scitech/2016 ... -at-Kruger

Poachers open fire on SANParks helicopter at Kruger
TMG Digital | 26 Mai, 2016 17:41


Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa disclosed on Thursday that a SANParks helicopter in the Kruger National Park (KNP) came under fire from suspected poachers‚ an act she described as "a dramatic escalation in our fight against rhino poaching".


Four poachers have been arrested and three firearms as well as poaching equipment have been seized after they were recovered at the three contact scenes‚ she said in a statement.

The poachers shot at the SANParks helicopter five times.

The department said that in three operations involving members of the SANParks Rangers‚ SAPS Airwing and K9 Units‚ contact was made in all three sections with groups of suspected poachers on Wednesday.

"The incidents took place in three separate sections of the southern part of the Kruger National Park that has borne the brunt of poaching.

"Fortunately‚ quick action by all the team members involved averted a catastrophe and the helicopter managed to land with all the crew on board safe."

Follow-up investigations involving the SAPS are under way.

In the first four months of this year‚ 363 rhinos were poached in South Africa‚ and of these 232 were killed in the KNP.

The number of incursions by poachers into the KNP is up by 28% in the first four months of this year.

Very brazen!

Posted today by Allison Thomson of OSCAP:

Allison Thomson

Just had a report in that 2 rhinos were poached last night at my local reserve - Rietvlei. You will remember that I posted an article recently regarding the politics in the park and the suspension of Riaan Marais. He was reinstated then suspended again last week.
I am devastated :(

More details in media release https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarel ... stpoaching


Dramatic escalation in fight against poaching as suspected poachers fire on SANPARKS Helicopter
26 May 2016



The Minister of Environmental Affairs Ms. Edna Molewa has congratulated SANParks and law-enforcement authorities for their sterling work in averting a catastrophe, after suspected poachers fired on a SANParks helicopter in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

The incident represents a dramatic escalation in our fight against rhino poaching, and is further indication that SANParks and all our law enforcement agencies continue to fight to curb rhino poaching.

On the 25 May 2016 suspected poachers inside the KNP shot at the SANParks helicopter five times.

In three operations involving members of the SANParks Rangers, SAPS Airwing and K9 Units, contact was made in all three sections with groups of suspected poachers.

The incidents took place in three separate sections of the southern part of the Kruger National Park that has borne the brunt of poaching.

Fortunately, quick action by all the team members involved averted a catastrophe and the helicopter managed to land with all the crew on board safe.

Four poachers have been arrested andthree firearms, ammunition and poaching equipment recovered at the three contact scenes.

Follow up investigations involving the SAPS are underway.

The Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros Approach, announced by Cabinet in 2014 - continues to yield results in the fight against poaching.

We are proud of the work done by our Rangers, the Management and Leadership of SANParks as well as all law enforcement agencies, particularly at the Kruger National Park.

This multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral approach involves collaboration between the SAPS, the SANDF, the intelligence community, SANParks, border and customs officials, Environmental Management Inspectors (EMI's) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The apprehension of the suspected poachers was the result of a joint operation by these teams involving the Joint Mission Operations Center (JMOC) launched by President Zuma last year. The operationalization of the JOC has enabled faster reaction time and more proactive operations by the anti-poaching teams inside the Kruger National Park (KNP).

"That the suspects were so swiftly apprehended is a sign that our integrated approach to battling rhino poaching is working," says Minister Molewa.

In the first four months of this year 363 rhinos were poached in South Africa, and of these 232 were killed in the KNP, that has the largest population of the species living in the wild. However, as recently announced, we realized a decline by the end of last year, and in the first quarter of this year.

This downward trend comes despite an increase in the number of incursions by poachers into the KNP - up by 28% in the first four months of this year.

"We retain utmost confidence in law enforcement agencies and our counterparts in Mozambique and elsewhere to successfully stop the activities of the criminal elements behind poaching," concluded Minister Molewa.

For media enquiries contact:

Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871

On FB several reports of poaching at Rietvlei, two rhino cows killed and the reserves obviously closed today.

http://rekordcenturion.co.za/86282/rhin ... i-reserve/

Two rhinos were poached at the Rietvlei nature reserve on Thursday.

Details of the incident have not been disclosed, but two reliable sources confirmed to Rekord that police and Hawks officers are on scene and investigating.

Both rhinos’ horns were removed.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said he has not received any information on the killings, but is waiting for a statement from the officers.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo could not comment on the killings.

Ward councillor Lex Middelberg said he has had little information from management at the reserve.

“The former management was sidelined some time ago, and we have not had much communication from management since.”

This comes shortly after a duiker was apparently shot and killed in the reserve last week while it was busy eating.

More on this story as it becomes available.

Sounds as if they are kind of blaming the new management

Apparently one of the rhinos was pregnant!

So they killed them for the stumps!