Open Season for Poachers

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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Wildstroper doodgeskiet
2011-03-25 12:54

n Vermeende wildstroper is deur bewaarders in die Ndumo-wildreservaat in KwaZulu-Natal doodgeskiet.

Die voorval het plaasgevind kort nadat daar op 'n witrenoster afgekom is wat dieselfde oggend gestroop is.

"Net die voorste horing is onhandig verwyder, die agterste horing was nog daar," het reservaat-woordvoerder, mnr. Musa Mntambo, gesê.

Veldwagters het in dik bosse weggekruip en gewag dat die stropers terugkeer om die horing te verwyder.

Vyf mans het laatmiddag opgedaag.

Hulle is beveel om op die grond te gaan lê, maar een het 'n geweer op die wagters gerig en hy is in die been geskiet. Sy makkers het gevlug.

Die gewonde man is dood voordat die ambulans op die toneel opgedaag het. - Sapa
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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0000DS wrote:Wildstroper doodgeskiet
2011-03-25 12:54

n Vermeende wildstroper is deur bewaarders in die Ndumo-wildreservaat in KwaZulu-Natal doodgeskiet.

Die voorval het plaasgevind kort nadat daar op 'n witrenoster afgekom is wat dieselfde oggend gestroop is.

"Net die voorste horing is onhandig verwyder, die agterste horing was nog daar," het reservaat-woordvoerder, mnr. Musa Mntambo, gesê.

Veldwagters het in dik bosse weggekruip en gewag dat die stropers terugkeer om die horing te verwyder.

Vyf mans het laatmiddag opgedaag.

Hulle is beveel om op die grond te gaan lê, maar een het 'n geweer op die wagters gerig en hy is in die been geskiet. Sy makkers het gevlug.

Die gewonde man is dood voordat die ambulans op die toneel opgedaag het. - Sapa
Nou wonder ek hoe lank het hulle gewag totdat hulle die ambulaans geroep het .... tensy hulle sy femur afgeskiet het. :think:
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Niel »

Die beste is hulle skiet die ou met die wapen en die ander kom weg - goeie eiers man wat het die ouens gerook?
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Alarm sounded over Africa's rhinos
2011-03-25 18:04

Geneva - Africa's rhinos face their worst poaching crisis in decades with organised crime syndicates killing more than 800 in the past three years alone, a global network of conservationists said on Friday.

The two horns on each of the plant-eating, poor-sighted African rhinoceros sell like gold on the black market. Each pound can fetch tens of thousands of dollars in southeast Asia where the horns are thought to have medicinal value.

The Swiss-based International Union for Conservation of Nature said poaching of the two different species of African rhinos is on the rise in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, due to well-equipped and sophisticated crime gangs.

South Africa alone lost 333 rhinos last year and so far this year has lost more than 70, according to IUCN, the world's oldest and largest environmental network.

It said most rhino horns leaving Africa are ground into medicine for Asian markets, and Vietnamese are repeatedly implicated in South Africa's poaching trade.

Richard Emslie, a scientific officer with IUCN, said the remaining 24 990 rhinos on the African continent might start to decline again in numbers "unless the rapid escalation in poaching in recent years can be halted".

At last count there were 4 840 black rhinos and 20 150 white rhinos, an improvement from 2007 when there were 4 240 black rhinos and 17 500 white rhinos.

"Although good biological management and anti-poaching efforts have led to modest population gains for both species of African rhino, we are still very concerned about the increasing involvement of organised criminal poaching networks," Emslie said.

The UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species banned the commercial trade in rhino horn in 1993.

But the horns are a key ingredient in Chinese traditional medicine, prized as a cure for everything from colds to impotence. They are made largely of the protein keratin, the same substance as human hair and nails.

Poachers are using helicopters, night-vision goggles and high-powered rifles to hunt and kill rhinos - equipment even African wildlife officials can't afford.
- AP
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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The onslaught continues in what to my mind looks suspiciously like official involvement :eh: ...............

Poachers kill five rhino in Wild Coast nature reserve
Daily Dispatch 12 April 2011


At least five of the remaining seven white rhino at Dwesa Nature Reserve on the Transkei Wild Coast have been killed by poachers and had their horns removed.

Although park officials are desperately searching the 3900 hectare reserve to locate the remaining two animals, hopes that they will be found alive are fading.

At this stage it is not clear over what period the rhino were killed, but the Dispatch has reliably learned that an intensive investigation into the deaths was launched by officials from the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs , Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) and the police’s organised crime unit after the first carcass was found in February.

The team has since followed up on several leads, while staff members from the reserve have also undergone lie detector tests.

The poaching incidents at Dwesa follow a highly controversial State- sanctioned hunt in April 2009 in which six white rhino were shot.

The hunt, which was authorised by the then-Eastern Cape Parks Board, was conducted because white rhino are considered alien to the area.

At the time, parks board chairman Andrew Muir said they wanted to introduce black rhino, which are considered indigenous, to the reserve but the park was too small to accommodate both and they would fight.

Five white rhino were shot by Vietnamese hunters while a sixth was shot by a French national.

Muir said the remaining white rhino – thought to number seven – would be relocated.

Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, ECPTA CEO Sybert Liebenberg said that due to the nature of the investigation he could not discuss the details. He did, however, say that the remaining rhino had not been relocated after the 2009 hunt because the Eastern Cape Parks Board and Eastern Cape Tourism Board were merging and all major decisions were put on hold.

"There is a place for hunting but at the moment there is no hunting of rhino taking place on any reserve managed by the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency," he said.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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2 poachers killed in Kruger Park
2011-04-19 14:21

Johannesburg - Two poachers have been shot dead in the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, SA National Parks said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson William Mabasa said rangers heard gunshots in the park on Monday night and went to investigate. They found the two chopping the horn from a dead rhino.

"A shoot-out ensued and the two were shot dead," he said.
- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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0000DS wrote:2 poachers killed in Kruger Park
2011-04-19 14:21

Johannesburg - Two poachers have been shot dead in the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, SA National Parks said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson William Mabasa said rangers heard gunshots in the park on Monday night and went to investigate. They found the two chopping the horn from a dead rhino.

"A shoot-out ensued and the two were shot dead," he said.
- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Gunta »

Unfortunately the other 4 poachers were taken alive. All poachers should stand before a firing squad.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Poachers kill rhino, hurt calf
2011-06-20 16:30

Johannesburg - A white rhino was killed and dehorned and her calf shot and injured, on a private game farm in Hoedspruit, Limpopo police said on Monday.

The carcass was found on Monday morning when workers were patrolling the game farm, said Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto.

The rhino cow was shot and her horn was removed.

Otto said the 4-month-old calf fled from the scene and farm workers and the police were tracing it.

No arrests were made.

- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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saw the anti poaching rangers in KNP is making an impact pouching stats dropped
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Niel wrote:saw the anti poaching rangers in KNP is making an impact pouching stats dropped
Saw that on 50/50 tonight as well ..... looking a little more positive. ;-)
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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very good news indeed
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Niel wrote:very good news indeed
A little good a Big time too late :eh:

Prevention is always better than cure :think:
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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War against rhino poachers continues
2011-07-01 22:17

Cape Town - Whether the war against rhino poaching in South Africa is being won remains an open question.

"No. Until such time there are no more rhinos killed I can say we are winning the war," Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said in a written reply to a parliamentary question, tabled on Friday.

Her reply, dated June 3, reveals that 173 rhinos were killed by poachers around the country between January 1 this year and that date.

Molewa said over the same period, 121 poachers had been caught.

Of the 173 rhinos slaughtered for their horns, 120 were killed in the Kruger National Park (KNP) - four of them black rhinos, the rest white.

A further 21 were killed in Limpopo, 11 in KwaZulu-Natal, seven in the Eastern Cape, five in Gauteng, four in North West, three in Mpumalanga, and one each in the Free State and Western Cape.

"We are recording many successes in this war against rhino poaching. The number of arrests this year alone gives an indication that our efforts to fight this are bearing results," she said.

On efforts to curb the crime, Molewa said SA National Defence Force troops were patrolling the KNP's border with Mozambique.

In May this year, an SANDF patrol in the Houtbosrand area of the KNP was shot at by three poachers.

The troops returned fire and killed them.

An AK-47 assault rifle, a Bruno .458 hunting rifle, two axes and two cellphones were found in the men's possession.

Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu warned at the time the army would "fight fire with fire", saying they would not allow criminals to operate in the country's national parks.

The SANDF started guarding the park's borders in April last year, in an effort to curb the surge in rhino poaching.

Sisulu said by the end of 2013, the SANDF would be patrolling the full length of South Africa's land borders with Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia.
- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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I wonder why only at the end of 2013 ..... Oh, of course, we're fighting a war that will only end then ... the SANDF aren't sitting on their bums doing nothing anyway, nê! :thumbdown: :(
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Karkasse van drie renosters op een dag gekry
2011-07-09 00:06
Elise Tempelhoff
’n Vars witrenosterkarkas is in die Krugerwildtuin by Mahlangeni op die grens met Letaba Ranch naby Phalaborwa gekry, het mnr. William Mabasa, woordvoerder van die wildtuin, gistermiddag bevestig.

Die karkas is eergister gevind kort nadat die wildtuin verlede week gesê het geen renosters is in Junie gestroop nie.

Op dieselfde dag het inwoners van Marloth Park, naby Komatipoort, op die karkas van ’n witrenosterkoei en haar kalfie afgekom.

Volgens mnr. Toney Newey, ereveldwagter in Marloth Park, is die renosterkoei vir haar horings gestroop. Inwoners meen haar kalfie van ’n paar maande oud het van die honger omgekom. Die kalf se horings is nie verwyder nie.

Volgens Newey het Marloth Park vroeër sewe renosters gehad. In 2009 het stropers vir die eerste keer in dié bewaarde gebied ingekom en twee renosters gestroop. Inwoners het daarna ’n fonds op die been gebring om hul renosters te beskerm.

’n Besluit is toe geneem dat die oorblywende renosters onthoring sal word. ’n Veearts en van die ereveldwagters het in Junie drie van die oorblywende renosters se horings afgesaag en hulle met opsporingstoestelle toegerus.

“Ons kon egter nie die koei en haar kalf kry nie. Een van die inwoners het vandeesweek in ’n helikopter oor die woongebied gevlieg en op die karkasse afgekom.” Dit is in dié stadium onduidelik hoe oud die karkasse is.

Daar is tot dusver landwyd 200 renosters gestroop. 129 daarvan is in die Krugerwildtuin vir hul horings gestroop.

Verlede jaar is 333 renosters vir hul horings gestroop.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Hawks, Sars net trafficking 'kingpin'
2011-07-10 22:44

Johannesburg - An alleged kingpin in an international wildlife trafficking syndicate which has been linked to illegal trade in rhino horn and lion bones is expected to appear in court on Monday.

The arrest of 43-year-old Chumlong Lemtongthai, a Thai national, is the culmination of a year-long investigation led by the South African Revenue Service (Sars).

Media24 Investigations has established that forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan - the man who blew the lid on former police chief Jackie Selebi - provided crucial information about the syndicate to police and a wildlife NGO.

O’Sullivan, who had also been investigating the syndicate’s activities since last year, did not want to comment when contacted. “There is an investigation which has still to be completed,” he said.

Members of the Hawks swooped on a house in Edenvale, east of Johannesburg early on Saturday morning and arrested Lemtongthai just hours before he was due to fly out of the country. It was the second raid on the house in less than a month.

In a statement, Sars spokesperson Anton Fisher said: “The suspect allegedly obtained rhino hunting permits under false pretences in terms of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

“Such permits issued under Cites are specifically for trophy hunting and not for the illicit trade in rhino horn.

“It is alleged that once the animals were killed on supposed trophy hunting trips to South Africa, the rhino horns were sent abroad by the suspect who paid on average about R65 000 a kg for the rhino horn.”

Thai 'hunters'

At the house in a quiet, gated Edenvale suburb, police also found five Thai “hunters”. The men, who claimed not to be able to speak English, had recently returned from North West province where they are believed to have shot at least five rhino.

The group, accompanied by Lemtongthai, had arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on June 13. There, Sars agents and customs officials briefly detained Lemtongthai and confiscated his laptop, cellphone, an order form for 50 rhino horns and other documents.

After questioning, he was allowed to leave and the laptop and cellphone were returned to him a few days later.

The day of their arrival, Sars investigators and members of the Hawks also swooped on the Edenvale house where they arrested two Thai businessmen, Punpitak Chunchom, 44, and 31-year-old Phichet Thongpai, for the illegal possession of lion bones.

Both pleaded guilty last week in the Germiston Regional Court and admitted not having the requisite permit to possess the lion teeth and claws found in a rolled up package in one of their bags.

They were fined R10 000. A further fine of R100 000 or five years imprisonment was wholly suspended for five years.

Chunchom is believed to be a director of the Xaysavang Trading Export-Import Company, which is based in Laos, a tiny country of 6.8 million, which is bordered by China, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The company has gained notoriety in wildlife circles for their involvement in trading animals and animal products.

Pictures

In a statement, Thongpai claimed to be a photographer who had been employed in South Africa to photograph lion bones that were being offered for sale. The pictures would be e-mailed back to the head office in Laos where a decision would be taken on whether to buy the lion bones or not.

Thongpai said the company mainly dealt in lion bones. Both men claimed they were paid R5 000 a month.

Informed sources say Chunchom has been linked to various rhino hunts. In September 2008, he and four other suspects were arrested in Middelburg in Mpumalanga after they offered an undercover policeman $60 000 for three rhino horns.

The case against Chunchom and two other suspects was later withdrawn.

Lemtongthai is apparently a key figure in Xaysavang’s operations. According to Fisher, he will stand trial on charges involving “violations of the Customs and Excise Act, specifically section 80 (1) which deals with the improper use of permits in respect of goods”.

Xaysavang’s tentacles are believed to extend as far afield as China, Thailand, Vietnam and parts of Africa.

In July 2009, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and customs officers discovered a shipment of 260kg elephant ivory and 18kg rhino horn at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Monkeys

The shipment was registered in the name of the Xaysavang Trading Export-Import Company and was destined for Laos.

The cargo had originated in Mozambique, but KWS director Julius Kipng’etich remarked at the time: “Since Mozambique has no rhinos and elephants we suspect the trophies were illegally poached from neighbouring countries and transported to Maputo by road.”

A Vietnamese journalist traced the company’s address to a hotel in the Bolikhmxay province in central Laos. In an interview with the reporter, the company’s owner, Vixay Keosavang said the company owned a 20ha farm where long-tailed macaques were bred for export to China.

Xaysavang primarily sells the monkeys to a Chinese laboratory for use in experiments.

Yolan Friedmann, CEO of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, said the arrest of Lemtongthai was significant in that “it means we are starting to get into the syndicates”.

“This is not the end of poaching because there are other syndicates we know of, but now we are seeing role players in syndicates being caught. Up until recently, most arrests were at the level of poachers.

“People keep saying, 'shoot poachers in the Kruger National Park', but that won't make a difference. What is crucial is to make inroads into syndicates.”
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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ek wil die rowers vang en hulle net kwes en dan hulle neuse afsny dat hulle ook kan voel hoe voel dit
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Julian Rademeyer, Media24 Investigations
Johannesburg - A South African lion breeder and safari operator has emerged as a key supplier of millions of rands worth of rhino horn to a ruthless southeast Asian wildlife trafficking syndicate.

Marnus Steyl, 37, allegedly stood to make at least R16m in just 13 weeks this year by supplying 50 sets of rhino horn to a Laotian company fronting for the syndicate.

Media24 Investigations has established that the Xaysavang Trading Export-Import company - which reportedly operates from a hotel in central Laos - placed the order on April 23.

The requisition, which was signed by one of the company’s directors states bluntly: "1 month can shoot 15 rhino".

Chumlong Lemtongthai, 43, a senior Xaysavang director and a Thai citizen was arrested two weeks ago at a house in Edenvale and is expected to appear in court on Friday on 23 counts of obtaining rhino hunting permits under false pretences.
Sham hunts

Lemtongthai and his associates are alleged to have exploited legislation, which allows "trophy hunting" of rhinos, to obtain vast quantities of horn for the lucrative black markets of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

The syndicate is alleged to have used young Thai women, many of them trafficked to South Africa to work in brothels and strip-clubs, as "hunters" in sham hunts.

Lemtongthai's arrest was the culmination of a year-long investigation by the South African Revenue Service (Sars), aided by the Hawks, into Xaysavang’s activities.

Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan, the man who blew the whistle on corrupt police chief Jackie Selebi, also provided investigators with information from a key insider connected to the alleged racket.

Above board

This week Steyl denied any wrongdoing, telling Media24 Investigations: "We know our things are in order. Everything is above board; it can’t be any other way."

Media24 Investigations has obtained copies of affidavits, invoices, letters and dozens of photographs which trace Steyl's business dealings with Lemtongthai and another figure, Punpitak Chunchom, 44.

Chunchom - the syndicate’s alleged 'man-on-the-ground' in South Africa was recently expelled from the country after pleading guilty to the illegal possession of lion bones.

Steyl, who owns or has interests in farms and businesses in the Free State, North West Province, the Eastern Cape and Abu Dhabi, sprang to prominence in 2006 and 2007 when lions escaped from his game farm near Winburg in the Free State.

Lion bones

Steyl's involvement with Xaysavang dates back to at least October last year.

In a letter dated October 30 2010, Steyl confirmed that "Steyl Game CC helps to organise and conduct hunting for clients of Xaysavang Trading Export-Import co Ltd of Laos" and "assists with the export of predators, wild game, antelope and exotic species like rhino, lion, sable and roan antelope".

On November 16, Xaysavang was invoiced a total R1.3m by Steyl Game for 22kg of rhino horn. A month later, an amount of R434 000 was invoiced for "3 rhino".

Documents also show that the company charged Xaysavang R65 000 for a consignment of lion bones on November 4.

A series of photographs which appear to have been taken over two days in late March at a game farm in North West province, show Steyl, Chunchom and two young Thai women grinning as they pose next to carcasses of rhinos shot in a "hunt".

Another image clearly shows a labourer with a "Steyl Game CC" shirt preparing to remove a horn from a dead rhino as Chunchom looks on.

Undercover cop

Xaysavang first came to the attention of South African authorities in September 2008, when Chunchom and four other suspects were arrested in Middelburg in Mpumalanga after they allegedly offered an undercover policeman $60 000 for three rhino horns.

The case against Chunchom and two other suspects was later withdrawn.

In July 2009 the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and customs officers seized 260kg of elephant ivory and 18kg of rhino horn at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The shipment was registered to Xaysavang and was destined for Laos. Officials suspected the shipment originated in South Africa.

The company also reportedly owns a 20ha farm in Laos and breeds long-tailed macaques for export to China as laboratory animals.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Poaching - Kruger Park ranger arrested
2011-07-26 21:00
Pretoria - A Kruger National Park game ranger has been arrested in connection with alleged rhino poaching, SA National Parks (SANParks) chief executive Dr David Mabunda said on Tuesday.

In a statement, Mabunda said the ranger, who was arrested on Monday, had been linked to previous rhino poaching incidents 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," said Mabunda.

"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."

A total of 131 suspected poachers have been arrested, 65 of them in the Kruger National Park, since January.

Fifteen suspected poachers have also been killed and nine have been injured in clashes with Kruger National Park rangers since the start of the year.

So far this year 227 rhino have been killed, 20 of them in July.

The ranger would appear soon in the White River Magistrate's Court in Mpumulanga, said SANParks spokesperson Wanda Mkutshulwa.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Mud Dog »

Good, and I'm not convinced that he's the only one. For those poachers to achieve the level of kills (almost one per week) in the KNP, it's almost certain that there's a high level of collaboration / inside help. :think:
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Pregnant rhino cow killed, dehorned
2011-08-16 09:17

Johannesburg - A rhino was found dead and dehorned in Brits on Tuesday, North West police said.

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the rhino cow had been pregnant.

"The rhino was found dead this morning with only one horn, the other horn was cut off...," he said.

It was suspected the rhino was shot from a helicopter, flying over land in Buffelsdrive.

While the search was on for suspected poachers, a baby rhino that went missing on the farm a few weeks back was also found dead, he said.

The landowner and the police were searching for the poachers using a helicopter.
- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Poacher shot dead, 7 arrested
2011-08-28 22:42

Johannesburg - A man was shot dead, another wounded, and six others arrested when police foiled two rhino poaching attempts in Limpopo on Sunday, a spokesperson said.

Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the incidents occurred on Rietvley Farm in Polokwane and Welgevonden Farm just outside Modimolle in the late afternoon.

"The man was shot at Rietvley Farm after he and his four accomplices allegedly failed to heed police instructions to surrender," Hangwani said.

He allegedly pointed a R5 automatic rifle at police, who then retaliated with gunfire. Another suspect was shot in the buttocks and taken to hospital under police guard. Three others then surrendered.

"In Welgevoden Farm, two suspects, one who is an employee of the Limpopo provincial government, were cornered by police, and laid down their arms without any resistance," he said.

During both operations, police managed to recover a police-issued R5 automatic rifle with 34 live rounds, a silencer, a Toyota van, two axes, and a .307 rifle with a silencer.

The alleged poachers, excluding the Limpopo government employee, were Mozambican and Zimbabwean nationals, who were residing in Tembisa and Soshanguve townships in Gauteng.

Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Amon Mashigo said: "I hope this will be a lesson to other poachers that police are serious about their work and will not hesitate to protect themselves and arrest anyone including government officials who are fuelling this criminal act."

All suspects would appear in the Modimolle and Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Tjokkie »

Alhoewel die stroping van renosters tragies is, moet ek die stroping van ander wild in die Kruger Park ook noem.

Ons was deel van 'n groep wat die afgelope 9 dae proef waarnemings in die Kruger Nas Park gaan doen het. Verskeie roetes is gery waarvan sowat 50% nie eens vir die algemene publiek oop is nie en dis skokkend om te sien hoe die Kruger Park geplunder word.

Rondom Pretoriuskop (baie naby aan Bosbokrand nedersetting) is feitlik alle klein wild (primate, antelope ens) uitgewis. Eers wanneer mens dieper die park inbeweeg word wild meer algemeen aangetref. Die een groot rooibok troppe is totaal versplinter in heelwat kleiner groepies (dikwels tussen 10-15 bestaande uit slegs 'n paar volwasse en die res jong/onvolwasse diere).

Rondom Berg-en-Dal is die situasie nog nie so erg nie, maar namate mens meer oos beweeg langs die grens kan die afname in wild getalle duidelik waargeneem word. Dieselfde situasie is duidelik langs die oostelike grens noord van Skukuza tot verby Phalaborwa waargeneem word.

Ek dink dat KNP selfs meer geskok sou wees indien hulle 'n formele grootskaalse wildtelling soortgelyk aan die in Botswana gaan doen.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Pregnant rhino poached in Limpopo
2011-08-30 07:47

Polokwane - A pregnant rhino was poached and dehorned on a game farm between Roedtan and Zebediela in Limpopo, the SABC reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the rhino was shot several times with a rifle. Another rhino carcass was also reportedly found on the farm.

Last week two rhinos were shot and killed and their horns removed on a farm outside Mokopane.

The SABC said that some 280 rhinos had been killed so far this year.
- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by GI Jane »

It will be tragic if the only wild animals future generations will ever see, are the trophies stuffed and mounted on hunters walls. As for the rhino's, whose injured, lifeless bodies are left behind after their horns have been taken.... maybe they won't even have that..... So very, very sad. It stupefies me that licences for trophy hunters can even be issued for threatened species like the rhino anyway.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by luckyhit »

Poachers killed in Kruger shoot-out
2011-09-09 11:48

Mbombela - Two suspected poachers were shot dead and one was wounded in a shoot-out with the national defence force in the Kruger National Park, SA National Parks said on Friday.

The men were confronted by soldiers near Houtbos in the south of the park on Thursday afternoon, said spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli.

He said the wounded intruder was under police guard in hospital and expected to be charged soon.

A soldier was slightly injured in the tussle.

An AK-47 and a hunting rifle were confiscated.

"We are still investigating but are happy to say that a sweep of the area revealed no animal carcasses or injured animals."

- SAPA

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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Nog 2 renosters geteiken
2011-09-12 08:15
Marietie Louw-Carstens
Polokwane. – ’n Renoster is in die stad se munisipale wildtuin gekry wat sowat ’n week gelede doodgeskiet en van die horings gestroop is.

Dit het gebeur nadat bergfietsryers die naweek in die wildtuin ’n ander renoster met ’n pienk verdowingspyl in die lyf gesien het.

Mnr. Simon Mokoatedi, woordvoerder van die Polokwane-munisipaliteit, het gister gesê dit is nog onseker wat die renoster se geslag was. “Ons kan nie sê presies wanneer dit gebeur het nie, maar dit is nie meer as ’n week gelede nie.”

Veeartse wat die naweek met ’n helikopter oor die wildtuin van 3 200 ha gevlieg het, het die karkas gesien. Hulle was op soek na die renoster met die doofpyl toe hulle die ander karkas opgemerk het.

Dié was die eerste aanslae op die renosters in die wildtuin.

’n Wildtuinbeampte het eergister nog aan Beeld gesê: “Ons het alles onder beheer.”

Die beampte wou nie die presiese getal renosters bekend maak nie, “want dan is dit soos ’n advertensie vir stropers”.

Mokoatedi het gesê veiligheid by die wildtuin sal opgeskerp word.

Brig. Hangwani Mulaudzi, kommunikasiehoof van die polisie in Limpopo, het gesê die eenheid teen georganiseerde misdaad ondersoek die stroping.

Teen druktyd het die polisie ook steeds gesoek na twee vermeende renosterstropers in die Gravelotte-gebied. Die twee mans is met AK47-aanvalsgewere gewapen. ’n Motor waarin hulle gevlug het, is naby Gravelotte met bloed in gekry.

Me. Selomie Maritz, eienaar van die Palala Rhino Sanctuary buite Mookgophong (Naboomspruit), het gesê hulle gaan ook, in ’n poging om hul renosters te beskerm, die diere se horings met ’n middel teen parasiete behandel.

Die Renoster-en-leeupark buite Krugersdorp gebruik dié metode. Daar is sowat 200 kennisgewingborde in die reservaat wat teen die middel se skadelikheid vir mense waarsku. Sedert daarmee begin is, is daar nog nie een renoster gestroop nie.

Maritz het gesê dié teenparasitiese middel word gemeng met ’n pienk ink, soortgelyk aan dié wat veiligheidsmaatskappye gebruik om geldnote te merk wat in transitorooftogte gebuit word.

Dit word in die renoster se horing ingeboor.

“Dit is ons enigste oplossing om te keer dat ons renosters doodgemaak word.”
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Rhino calf saved by getting stuck in tree
2011-09-14 22:57
Rhino Calf.jpg
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Johannesburg - A 3-week old white rhino calf was trapped for at least eight hours in the fork of a young thorn tree after its mother, named Alpha, was shot by poachers on a game farm in Assen, near Pretoria.

The calf blindly ran away from the poachers after one of them slashed it over its head with a panga.

The calf ran helter-skelter into a bush a few metres away from where the poachers had shot the cow in her heart and head, and ended up with his head trapped in the V-shaped fork of a young tree.

In its desperate attempts to escape the calf had pawed deep grooves in the ground around the tree and had rubbed its neck raw against the trunks - causing his head to swell up.

A rhino cannot move backwards.

The owner, Neels van Rensburg, said when he arrived at the carcass of the cow, the pitiful bleats of the calf was all one could hear.

Alpha was one of the first rhinos that Van Rensburg bought. He said the poachers would have killed the calf as well, if the tree did not trap its head.

Poachers usually shoot the calves because they keep trying to nuzzle the dead cow while the poachers cut off the rhino horn.

"I heard the little one cry, I saw it was trapped and was hurting, but I could not do anything until the vet arrived,” Van Rensburg said.

Doctor Louis Greef, a veterinarian from Thabazimbi, two helpers and a game ranger calmed the calf by plugging its ears and putting a blindfold over its eyes.

It took half an hour to lift its head free from the fork.

After it was freed, the calf was put on a drip and loaded onto a trailer.

Greef, who specialises in game in the Limpopo province, said he has since May received a call about a rhino that had been shot every four days. About a month ago another white rhino cow and her calf was also killed on Van Rensburg’s farm.

"Few people get so angry at the poachers like we do who work on the scene. It does not help that the poachers get caught, because they walk free.

"They must be shot and killed.People out there do not know what is happening. It is chaos and it will not end," said Greef.

Van Rensburg suspects the poachers are part of a group of six who were caught earlier on his farm. Two of the men were linked to rhino poaching in Limpopo, but four were released.
Greef and Van Rensburg agree that the police should dedicate a team to investigate all cases of rhino poaching.

Greef said there is no co-ordination between case.

"These rhinos are like children to me. Other people smoke, use drugs or fish. I have rhinos," said Van Rensburg.

"Only last night [Monday evening] this cow and her calf came to eat lucerne at my house while I sat on the stoep.

"Unfortunately I may not cut off the nose of the donder [poacher] or kill him."
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

White rhino cow, calf killed in Kruger Park
2011-10-11 22:48
Johannesburg - Two white rhinos have been killed by poachers near Albasini Road in the Pretoriuskop ranger section of the Kruger National Park, a park spokesman said on Tuesday.

The carcasses of a cow and her calf were discovered on Tuesday morning, said William Mabasa. It was unclear when they were killed.

"The two animals were both shot in the head and only one front horn was removed from the cow."

"We believe that this is truly a despicable act and would like to encourage everybody to come forward and report any suspicious movements," said Mabasa.


- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Rhino shot 11 times, survives
2011-10-13 08:57
Polokwane - A rhino survived after being shot 11 times on a Limpopo farm, according to a report on Thursday.

Gaven Holden-Smith, of an on independent anti-poaching unit in the Waterberg area, told Beeld newspaper that the young cow was found on Wednesday on a farm between Bela-Bela and Thabazimbi.

The rhino was being treated to avoid infections and would probably be moved to another farm in the area which was believed to be safer, Holden-Smith said.

Since January, a total of 324 rhinos had been poached and more than 180 people arrested in connection with rhino poaching. This figure included two white rhino killed by poachers in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday.

The government is in the process of tightening up hunting regulations in a bid to curb rhino hunting.
- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

341 rhino killed this year
Alex Eliseev and Jacob Moshokoa | EWN News 03-11-2011


The Kruger National Park said it believed the number of rhino killed by poachers would start decreasing over the next few months.
In the latest figures released, 341 rhino have been killed across South Africa since January, a figure that has increased from the 333 which were poached last year.
Wildlife organisations fear the total for this year could break through the 400 barrier.
But, the Kruger Park said more rangers, donati-ons of sophisticated equipment and the deployment of soldiers are helping to turn the -tide.
The park's William Mabasa said because of the spike in attacks during the first three months of the year, the numbers are currently decreasing.
"The numbers are coming down, its just because of the spike we seen earlier this year that its higher than we expected."
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Kloof gesig oop vir horing
2011-12-09 00:57
Marietie Louw-Carstens
Minstens nege renosters is sedert die naweek vir hul horings in Limpopo doodgemaak.

’n Swartrenosterbul is een van die diere wat dood is.

Ses renosters is eergisternag afgemaai. Dit was volmaan en stropers slaan dan gewoonlik meer toe. Daar is vanjaar al 75 renosters in Limpopo gestroop.

Mnr. Steve Topham van die Phuza Moya- private wildreservaat naby Hoedspruit het gesê renosters “word soos vlieë doodgemaak”.

’n Dragtige renosterkoei is eergisternag op die plaas met ’n .375-jaggeweer doodgeskiet. Die stropers het haar gesig oopgekap om haar horings te kry.

Topham het gesê sy sou amper kalf. Haar twee jaar oue bulkalf was by sy ma toe sy doodgemaak is. “Om so iets te sien laat volwasse mans huil.”

Mnr. Piet Warren, ’n boer van Gravelotte, het gesê die kalf wou nie van sy ma weggaan nie.

“Die stropers het hom in sy nek geskiet. Sy een voorbeen is ook raak geskiet. Ons moes hom van kant maak.”

Dit is die tweede keer in minder as ’n maand dat renosters op die plaas gestroop word.

In November is ’n koei en haar kalf hier doodgeskiet.

Lt.kol. Ronel Otto, polisiewoordvoerder, het gesê die karkas van ’n swartrenosterbul is eergistermiddag op die plaas Maremani in die Musina-distrik gekry. Die dier is vermoedelik al die naweek doodgemaak. Sy horings is afgekap.

Warren het gesê daar is ook drie renosters eergisteraand op die Letaba-Ranch-wildreservaat in die gebied doodgemaak.

Die wildreservaat behoort aan die Limpopo-regering se departement van toerisme en omgewingsake. “Ons is besig om dooie renosters op te tel vandag. Dit is verskriklik.”

Nog ’n witrenoster is eergisteraand in die Manyeleti-gebied naby Hoedspruit doodgeskiet.

Die naweek is twee witrenosters in die Vaalwater-gebied doodgemaak.

Verskeie wildboere het gister gesê ses renosterkarkasse is gister in die Krugerwildtuin gekry, maar mnr. William Mbasa, woordvoerder, het teen druktyd nie daarvan geweet nie.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by GI Jane »

Reading this has made me feel sick in the pit of my stomach again. No value for animal life. Then you read the news, no value for human life..... As humans that are meant to be more advanced than animals because of our ability to reason, we behave like beings that are way less advanced. What is to become of us?
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

3 more rhino carcasses found
2012-01-12 15:14

Johannesburg - Three more rhino carcasses were found in the Kruger National Park on Thursday, following the discovery of eight earlier this week, said SA National Parks (SANParks).

Two suspected poachers were arrested, said spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli.

He said earlier that game rangers killed two suspected Mozambican poachers in a shoot-out during an anti-poaching operation in the park on Wednesday night.

They seized a rifle and other hunting equipment.

The operation was conducted after the discovery of the dehorned carcasses of eight rhinos on Tuesday.

The additional rhino carcasses were found after an aerial search on Thursday morning.

SANParks has asked members of the public to provide it and the police with information which could lead to the arrests of poachers.
Last year, about 443 rhinos were killed for their horns in South Africa, with 333 killed in 2010.
- SAPA

So the count for 2012 starts with 11 :thumbdown:
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 4x4Maniac »

Dit is regtig sad!!

Kan nie glo hoe dom hulle is nie, die groot vraag bly nog hoe kom jy weg met dit? Hoe kry hulle die horings in poeier formaat en smokkel dit uit die land uit na China en daai plekke toe?
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Bernie »

Did you know that we still have a major problem with Lion and Elelephant poaching. Some say that because they have so many Elephants in the Kruger it is not all bad but the Lions are in trouble becausae of TB and a general unhealthy breeding pool. Details are not communicated for obvious reasons.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Two rhino killed in Limpopo
2012-02-10 10:04

Polokwane - Two rhino, a mother and a calf, have been killed by poachers in a Limpopo reserve, police said.

Tzaneen police spokesperson Major General Maggy Mathebula said the two rhinos were found in the Tiergarten Wildlife Reserve near Letsitele on Thursday.

Both had been shot and their horns removed.

In 2011, two rhino were killed and dehorned in the same reserve, which covers 8 000ha.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Sad! .... and amazing how this still carries on unabated (in fact at an ever increasing rate) when there is so much outcry against it, so many initiatives and organisations that are supposedly doing something to combat it and Nature Conservation that speaks of plans and actions being taken. Where is the result of all these efforts and the funds that are allocated / collected for the specific purpose of preserving these creatures?? Are there even any real efforts made, or are we just hearing rhetoric whilst the funds (Govt and private) are being channelled for personal gain?

Last night's news item of the rhino bull that succumbed to the anaesthesia while an attempt was made to plant a microchip and infuse a dye, makes me wonder even more. How does this even happen when one is dealing with such a highly endangered and rare species? Surely they would not be making use of an inexperienced or 'backwater' vet! then there's the blatant futility of the plan as well ..... a microchip!?? Come on! What good will that do! They will find the chip lying in the grass next to the de-horned carcass the next day (or a few days later as is often the case). In fact it will probably assist the bandits in locating their prey! And as for the dye, well the horns are most often ground up and packaged as something else before transportation anyway, so it would surely be child's play to isolate the dyed areas and either treat them or discard them. The dye can surely be washed out or chemically neutralised / altered .... whatever it takes, these bandits will have the means to get it done .... the rewards are too great for them to fail.

it is all a cause of great concern to me.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Staggering stats show rhino a day killed
2012-02-14 22:30
Johannesburg - Fifty-two rhino have been poached in South Africa so far this year, SA National Parks said on Tuesday.

The hardest hit areas continue to be the Kruger National Park and Limpopo province with 26 and 13 rhino poached there respectively, SANparks said.

The parastatal's CEO David Mabunda said the high number of rhino killings was worrying, but that the 30 arrests made so far and the steeper sentences imposed on convicted criminals, were encouraging.

"Conservation agencies and the police are seeing increasing co-operation from the public which has resulted in arrests in the Kruger National Park and some provinces being effective before the criminals even enter the parks," said Mabunda.

"The difficulty is pinning a suspected criminal to the actual crime because we are dealing with very wily and sophisticated individuals."


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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by GI Jane »

There seems to be no end to it, until there are no more rhino's left.... Greater security measures mean that criminals find more creative ways of getting around these measures.. and as long as there is a market for the horns it will continue, unfortunately,
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by SWARTLUX »

Ek se nogsteeds hulle moet die stropers wat hulle vang se horings ook afsny sommer met 'n stomp botter mes! :aggresive:

Hartseer dat so pragtige dier so uitgewis word. :cry:
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

2 renosters geskiet
2012-02-28 13:35

Buks Viljoen
Twee renosters, ‘n koei en haar kalf, is gisternag by die Napi-pad naby Pretoriuskopkamp in die Krugerwildtuin geskiet.
’n Oop wildbesigtigingsvoertuig wat toeriste op 'n wildrit geneem het, het op die karkasse reg langs die pad afgekom.
Albei diere se horings is gestroop.
Mev. Laura Mukwevho, woordvoerder van die wildtuin, sê die saak word ondersoek.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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3 rhino dehorned in Eastern Cape
2012-03-02 11:00

Port Elizabeth - A rhino has been killed and two of the creatures critically injured after poachers struck in the Eastern Cape on Friday morning, the Hawks said.

The attack took place on a game farm near Kenton-on-Sea, Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said.

"Rangers at the Kariega Game Farm were patrolling this morning when they found three dehorned rhinos," he said.

Vets and the police were called immediately.

"The police have cordoned off the scene and are investigating," he said.

Earlier this week, four suspects were arrested for killing and dehorning two rhinos in the Kruger National Park. The suspects included three park employees and a traffic officer.

They appeared in the White River Magistrate Court on Thursday, on charges of rhino poaching and defeating the ends of justice.

Their case has been postponed to March 8 for a formal bail application, Polela said.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by WayneSchalk »

This is really getting out of hand, is there not more that we can do than just report on how many rhinos was killed. I'm talking doing more than giving a R10 SMS or a donation. IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!

Who is the right person to get in contact with, I can not sit back and watch as the slaughter continues
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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http://www.sanparks.co.za/about/news/de ... hp?id=1848" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Date: 23rd March 2012


In the recent years poaching has become the brutal business of well armed criminals slaughtering our precious rhino population for the sake of money. Counter poaching measures which were put in place to confront this onslaught needed to respond to gangs of heavily armed poachers. Until recently the face of counter poaching was that of an armed ranger putting his life on the line for our rhinos. But now counter poaching has a new face.




Three Foxhounds, called Kombi, Jetta and Chico, have become the first of a new generation of crime fighters entering the poaching war on the side of our rhinos. They are busy completing the initial phase of their training, and are making excellent progress. They have shown above average abilities, and have already learnt to ignore animal spoor in favour of their human quarry. They are busy with a daily tracking routine which already has them tracking people with a 90% success rate. They are well balanced, keen and boisterous and are displaying an eagerness to track which bodes well for their futures.

The operational phase of their training starts during March, and promises to be very intense. Here they will have to learn to operate as a unit with their human handlers in wilderness situations, often facing wild animals and working under dangerous circumstance. Completing this, they will be operational in Kruger National Park well before the end of the year. You can track their progress here: Tracker dogs

The SANParks Honorary Rangers decided to sponsor this project with a R43 000 sponsorship through the Unite Against Poaching project, to help increase the efficiency of counter poaching teams. The dogs will be deployed as part of a rapid reaction team, which can be on the scene of a poaching incident within minutes. These tracker dogs will enable counter poaching teams to track poachers much faster and efficiently, preventing them from escaping capture by fleeing across the borders of the park with their bloody loot.

The three ladies are named after well know Volkswagen vehicles in honour of the Unitrans Volkswagen and Audi division, which came on board to help provide the necessary financial backing for this effort. They are at home in their comfortable new kennels, and are being well looked after.

These tail wagging bundles of energy are sure to turn into a poachers’ worst nightmare. Welcome to the new face of counter poaching!
The new faces of counter-poaching: Kombi, Jetta & Chico
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Niel »

The Department of Environmental Affairs is concerned about the ongoing scourge of rhino poaching. To date, a total of 135 rhinos have been killed for the illegal trade in rhino horn.


However, the department is encouraged by the increasing number of arrests and convictions made so far to counter rhino poaching. Since January 2012, a total of 89 suspects have been arrested and others have already been sentenced and are serving prison terms.

Kruger National Park continues to be the biggest victim of the senseless rhino killing. Last week, a suspected poacher was shot dead in the Kruger National Park and two suspects were arrested. In addition, a fifth KNP official stationed at the Pretoriuskop section of the park has been arrested.

SANParks in conjunction with SAPS are working flat out to determine if links exist between other internal suspects in relation to the two rhino killed in Pretoriuskop last month. A total of 75 rhinos have been lost to poaching in the Kruger National Park this year.

The department urges South Africans to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs that could lead to arrest and prevention of illegal killing to 0800 205 005.

Below are the current rhino poaching statistics:

Latest rhino poaching figures:



SA

2010

2011

2012



KNP (SANParks)

146

252

75



MNP (SANParks)

0

6

3



GP

15

9

0



LIM

52

74

17



MP

17

31

3



NW

57

21

15



EC

4

11

3



FS

3

4

0



KZN

38

34

18



WC

0

6

1



NC

1

0

0



TOTAL

333

448

135



Number of arrests:




SA

2012

2011

2010



KNP (SANParks)

20

82

67



MNP (SANParks)

0

0

0



Gauteng (GP)

10

16

10



Limpopo (LIM)

3

34

36



Mpumalanga (MP)

29

73

16



North West (NW)

15

21

2



Eastern Cape (EC)

0

2

7



Free State (FS)

6

0

0



KZN

5

4

25



Western Cape (WC)

0

0

2



Northern Cape (NC)

1

0

0



TOTAL

89

232

165



Issued by:
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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see link http://www.sanparks.co.za/about/news/de ... hp?id=1845" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Johannesburg - A rhino was killed when a truck knocked it down in the Dinokeng Game Reserve (DGR) near Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, on Wednesday, the game reserve said.

"This is a tragic accident and we are deeply saddened by the loss of another endangered white rhino," said Dinokeng projects CEO Dawn Robertson.

"Animal and nature conservation is at the heart of our work in the DGR and the loss of any animal is a cause for major concern."

The bull rhino was crossing the Rust de Winter road, a public road passing through the game reserve, when it was hit by a truck. The driver of the truck was not injured.

"We not only have to protect our rhino from poachers, but we also have to ensure that all necessary action is taken to ensure that motorists abide by the speed limit to ensure their safety as well as that of the animals in the reserve," said DGR management association chair Etienne Toerien.

He said Tshwane metro traffic police provided traffic enforcement services in the DGR.

"They trap and fine motorists found to be speeding or driving recklessly."

He said the Dinokeng Project was also in the process of installing 14 speed bumps on the tarred roads in the game reserve to encourage motorists to reduce their speed and abide by the 60km/h speed limit.

"We often see poachers as the only threat to rhinos, but we all have a part to play in ensuring they are kept safe. Motorists must stick to the speed limit and exercise caution when driving in a game reserve," he said.


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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Mud Dog »

Sad! Keeping rhino on a reserve or in a camp that has a public road close by or adjoining is asking for doo-doo. They should be encamped away from easy access IMO. :think:
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Niel »

Agree Andy what a tragedy. Like we are not losing enough rhinos to poaching.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Mud Dog »

Those figures you posted are staggering .... especially if you take into consideration that we are still only in the 1st quarter of the year and that those current figures reflect what has been reaped from an already seriously depleted population. :x
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Rhino: SA mulls new trophy hunt rules
2012-03-29 22:42

Johannesburg - South Africa may impose new limits on trophy hunts as it combats a devastating surge in rhino poaching, with 150 killed illegally so far this year, the environment ministry said on Thursday.

Big game hunters are allowed to kill a limited number of rhinos every year, with their horns exported as mounted trophies.

But a Thai man was arrested this week and accused of manipulating the system, making bogus trophy hunts to feed the demand for rhino horns in the Asian traditional medicine market.

His was the fourth arrest in an alleged syndicate that hired Thai strippers and prostitutes to pose as hunters and export the horns.

The ministry "will pursue a halt to the issuance of hunting permits to hunters coming from countries that do not have appropriate legislation to monitor whether the trophy is used for the purpose as reflected on the permits", it said in a statement.

The ministry is also in talks with Vietnam's agriculture department on how the countries can work together to address the matter of hunting permits and ways to stop possible abuses.

South Africa has asked Vietnam "if they could conduct inspections and verify that the white rhinoceros trophies exported from South Africa to Vietnam are still in the possession of the hunters", the statement added.

The animals' distinctive horns are hacked off to be smuggled to the lucrative Asian black market, where the fingernail-like substance is falsely believed to have powerful healing properties.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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The ministry "will pursue a halt to the issuance of hunting permits to hunters coming from countries that do not have appropriate legislation to monitor whether the trophy is used for the purpose as reflected on the permits", it said in a statement.
There should be a total ban on any form of rhino hunting! :crazy:
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Niel »

This is a good start

from sanparks site

The Matsulu community on the Western boundary of the Kruger National Park (KNP) actively helped South African National Parks (SANParks) apprehend a suspected rhino poacher recently. SANParks would like to thank the community for their assistance and asks other communities bordering KNP to follow suit.


William Mabasa, HOD: Public Relations, said “this noble deed is a clear indication that the communities around the Kruger National Park will not tolerate criminal activity, specifically rhino poaching, in their own backyard any more”.

Three suspected poachers thought to be working in the Khandizwe Mountains between Berg-en-Dal and the Western Boundary of the KNP were spotted and apprehended by field rangers on Friday 6 April 2012. William Mabasa said “after being questioned by SANParks officials the suspected poachers indicated that a vehicle and driver were waiting for them to arrive with rhino horn in the Matsulu Township”.

A SANParks helicopter was dispatched to where the vehicle was waiting to apprehend the remaining suspected poacher. As the helicopter approached, the suspected poacher abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into the township where a gathering of local community members realised SANParks was after the fleeing suspect and gave chase. They tackled the unsuspecting poacher and within a few minutes he was arrested and restrained by the members of the community and handed over to SANParks officials.

According to William Mabasa, “the community members after being told he was apparently involved in rhino poaching shouted that they were sick and tired of this criminal activity emanating from the township”. SANParks is proud to congratulate the community on the role they played in exercising this citizen arrest and assisting the fight against rhino poaching.


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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by Niel »

stats from sanparks

Department of Environmental Affairs is perturbed by the continuous loss of rhinos through illegal killings. So far, a total of 171 rhinos have been killed this year for the illegal trade in rhino horn.


According to statistics, rhino poachers are targeting the Kruger National Park which has suffered a loss of 103 rhinos killed.

Limpopo, KZN and North-West - collectively accounting for 58 killed rhinos - are also the prime focus of the poachers. These provinces have lost 23, 18 and 17 rhinos, respectively.

The department wishes to once again urge South Africans to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs that could lead to arrest and prevention of illegal killing to 0800 205 005.



see stats here: http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=1861" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Nearly 200 rhino poached in SA
2012-04-30 22:20

Johannesburg - South Africa has lost 199 rhino to poaching since the beginning of 2012, the department of environmental affairs said on Monday.

"Latest statistics indicate that the Kruger National Park is still the most targeted by poachers with the park having lost a total of 119 rhino from the beginning of this year," department spokesperson Albi Modise said.

In a statement, he said the targeted provinces included Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal, which collectively accounted for 73 killed rhino.

Thus far, 122 arrests had been made of which 108 were poachers and 14 were either couriers or buyers.

South Africans were urged to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs that could lead to arrest and prevention of illegal killing to 0800 205 005.

According to the department, in 2010 there were 146 rhino poached in the Kruger National Park and a total of 333 nationally.

Under fire

In 2011, there were 252 rhino poached in the Kruger National Park and 448 nationally.
On Saturday morning, a policeman and a game ranger were both shot and killed in the park.

The policeman, accompanied by a soldier, was searching for rhino poachers in the park's southern Tshokwane section when they came under fire, police spokesperson Colonel Vishnu Naidoo said on Sunday.

"The shooting resulted in the [police] member being shot and killed. In return, the defence force member fatally wounded the shooter," said Naidoo.

"It emerged later that the shooter was in fact an on-duty [SA National Parks] game ranger."

An inquest docket had been opened to determine the circumstances and cause of the incident.

According to reports, on Monday Kruger National Park spokesperson William Mabasa said that since the start of 2011 there had been 25 shoot-outs in the park.

War zone

Beeld quoted a source as saying that since the anti-poaching campaign was stepped-up, the park had turned into a "war zone".

It reported that throwing various groups together in the fight against poaching caused mutual distrust.

The newspaper also reported the source as saying that rangers were specifically trained to track poachers, whereas police and soldiers were not.

On Monday, Naidoo said there were no new developments in the investigation into the past weekend's shooting.

He also felt the article was distorted.

He did not want to elaborate, but said the inquest into the shooting would take time and any comment now would be purely speculative.

When contacted, Mabasa said he would comment later this week.
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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210 rhino poached, Kruger main target
2012-05-07 22:12

Johannesburg - A total of 210 rhino have been poached since the beginning of the year, the department of environmental affairs said on Monday.

In the Kruger National Park alone, 127 rhino were illegally killed, spokesperson Albi Modise said in a statement.

"Government views the poaching of this national treasure in a very serious light and continues to prioritise our fight against this crime through co-ordinated, joint efforts," he said.

Twenty-nine rhino were poached in Limpopo, 22 in KwaZulu-Natal and 19 in North West.

A total of 165 poachers were arrested in the same period, 67 of them in the Kruger National Park.

Modise appealed to the public to report rhino poaching or any information that could lead to arrests.


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Re: Open Season for Poachers

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Rhino poacher killed in Kruger shoot-out
2012-05-10 18:53

Johannesburg - A suspected rhino poacher was killed in a shoot-out at the Crocodile Bridge Ranger section of the Kruger National Park on Thursday, SA National Parks (SANParks) said.

An investigation by SANParks rangers, police and the military into the killing of a rhino cow and her calf earlier in the day led to three men, said spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli in a statement.

"A shoot-out ensued, which led to one suspect being fatally wounded and the other two [being] arrested."

Four fresh rhino horns, a hunting rifle and an axe were recovered from the men.

The total number of rhinos poached in the Kruger National Park since January this year now stands at 130.

Another SANParks spokesperson, Paul Daphne, appealed to the public to report suspected poaching.

"It is unfortunate that we could not save the rhino cow and calf in time, but we are convinced that with the increased measures we have in place, the poachers are feeling the pressure..." he said.

Thakhuli said the two alleged poachers would appear in court soon.


- SAPA
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Re: Open Season for Poachers

Post by 0000DS »

Vietnamese man bust with 10 rhino horns
2012-05-16 07:24

Johannesburg - A Vietnamese man was arrested when 10 rhino horns were found in a raid on his flat in Bedfordview, on the East Rand, on Tuesday night, police said.

Colonel Vishnu Naidoo said police, Ekurhuleni metro police and home affairs officials raided the flat on a tip-off.

"We recovered 10 rhino horns, worth between R12m to R15m, one elephant tusk, gold jewellery, and huge stacks of money," Naidoo said.

"There must be millions of rands in the flat. Some of it is in [US] dollars," he said.
- SAPA
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