Suspected giraffe poacher arrested in PMB
A conservation group in Bisely in Pietermaritzburg says giraffe poaching has increased over the past three months.
Alexandra police on Wednesday arrested two suspects, transporting giraffe legs in their vehicle.
Peter West from Friends of Bisley Nature Reserve says he was called to the scene when he heard that residents managed to apprehend one of the suspects:
"This gentleman apprehended a group of three people, but two of them had gone away. They managed to hold onto the driver and take the keys from the bakkie, and in the back of the bakkie were four giraffe legs."
Police have opened a case of illegal hunting.
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West says a security company that accompanied them found another suspect who allegedly admitted poaching three animals.
He also revealed where the carcass was being kept.
West says there's a growing demand for giraffe meat.
"A giraffe like that is worth about R16 000. We found evidence, and there was giraffe meat in his fridge. We think they are selling the meat to chesanyamas, so it’s quite a business. We have to put a stop to it as best as we can."
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