Five nabbed as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife steps up fight against poaching
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife says the improved and random deployment of field ranges, police officers and K9 units have made life difficult for poachers.
Three suspected poachers were arrested last week before they could kill a rhino inside the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in northern KZN.
This brings the number of alleged poachers caught inside the park this year to five.
Spokesperson Musa Mtambo says the first suspect was arrested last week Monday.
"One of the men was picked up by the Ezemvelo camera and the field rangers, assisted by K9 units, were deployed for tracking. When he saw a chopper he decided to run and took off his t-shirt in an attempt to blend with the bush. He appeared in a Hlabisa court on Tuesday.
He says two others were caught two days later.
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The suspects will return to court on Monday.
"The two had recently travelled from Mpumalanga Province and were staying in a house that's a stone throw away from the HIP. Ezemvelo rangers who were on the early morning foot patrol noticed footprints and decided to call the K9 unit.
“The K9 unit began to follow the tracks which led them near to where the suspects were hiding. The two suspects were arrested in the afternoon. They were found with a 3.7 rifle.”
This year a total of 123 rhinos have been poached in KwaZulu-Natal in both public and private game reserves.
