Stricter measures to combat rhino poaching
Government is in the process of deploying its Environmental Management Inspectors or Green Scorpions to King Shaka International Airport and the Durban Harbour on a permanent basis.
Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa made the announcement in Pretoria yesterday.
The department's Albi Modise says it is the scorpions' job to ensure that no rhino horn products make it in or out of the country's various points of entry.
He says this has been the responsibility of the scorpions stationed at OR Tambo International for the past year.
Modise says government is worried about the increase in the number of rhino poached every year.
''By Thursday, the number of rhino that had been poached had reached 749 in the whole country. By this particular period last year, a number of rhino which had been lost was 716.
''Government is working closely with a number of partners. We're working closely with NGOs, the private sector and [using] the integrated management approach with regard to the management of the rhino population,'' he said.
(File photo: Gallo Images)