An updated media release from SANParks states that not one – but two – rhinos were killed at Kruger National Park over the weekend.
Sadly, it appears that two female rhinos were killed by poachers at Kruger National Park during the World Cup opening weekend. Earlier reports stated that one rhino had been killed.
According to today’s recent media release from SANParks:
Rangers first noticed human tracks on Saturday, 13 June 2010 during their normal patrol, and from that time they continued to follow the tracks until they found this suspected rhino poacher on the morning of June 14, 2010.
During their patrol on the morning of Monday, June 14, 2010, the Field Rangers heard a gunshot, moved towards the direction of the shot and on their way they found a carcass of white rhino with both horns already removed. A short while thereafter, they heard more gunshots and as they moved towards that direction, this time the shot was much closer to the ranger team. Lying in ambush, the Rangers saw the poacher walking in a distance and remained still until they heard the sound of the axe cutting off the horn. At that point, the rangers moved closer and positioned themselves directly on the path the suspect was likely to take and just when the suspect was finished cutting off the horn from the second rhino and was ready to move away, he walked on to the field rangers’ direction.
The suspected rhino poacher, who was armed, opened fire as soon as he realised that there were rangers around him and the Field Rangers fired back. The suspect was injured on the shoulder, hand and hip. Because the tracks suggested that there were more people in the area after arresting the suspect, the team went to look for more suspects without any success.
The release didn’t say whether the horns of the first rhino had been recovered or not.
You may also wish to read our previous post about this rhino poaching incident, as it includes the (reported) number of rhinos killed in South Africa from 2007 up to the present, as well as tidbits regarding rhino poaching syndicates operating in South Africa.
In addition to this horrible incident, three men were arrested by customs officials at the OR Tambo International Airport for attempting to smuggle rhino horn to Vietnam – just 30 minutes before the World Cup opening ceremony on Friday.
Source: SANParks
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.