A total of 117 people have been arrested for rhino poaching-related charges countrywide since the beginning of 2013. Of these, 53 are suspected poachers arrested in the Kruger National Park, and five are alleged couriers.
Three alleged rhino poachers were arrested in the Tshokwane region of the Kruger National Park yesterday, 6 June 2013. The group were found in possession of firearms and axes.
The arrests come as the number of rhino poached in South Africa for their horn since January 2013 has risen to 394.
The Kruger National Park continues to be the most seriously affected by rhino poaching, with 257 animals being killed in the Park since the beginning of the year.
In North West 46 rhino have been poached, while 35 have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal, 28 in Limpopo, 25 in Mpumalanga, 2 in the Eastern Cape and 1 in Gauteng.
Letaba Section Ranger Andrew Desmet, who was shot and wounded during a joint operation to arrest rhino poachers near Letaba two weeks ago, remains in a critical, but stable, condition in a Nelspruit hospital after undergoing surgery on Tuesday.
South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.
Rhino poaching statistics
|
SA |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
KNP (SANParks) |
146 |
252 |
425 |
257 |
|
MNP (SANParks) |
0 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
|
GP |
15 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
|
LIM |
52 |
74 |
59 |
28 |
|
MP |
17 |
31 |
28 |
25 |
|
NW |
57 |
21 |
77 |
46 |
|
EC |
4 |
11 |
7 |
2 |
|
FS |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
KZN |
38 |
34 |
66 |
35 |
|
WC |
0 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
NC |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
333 |
448 |
668 |
394 |
Rhino poaching arrests statistics
|
South Africa - Arrests |
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
|
KNP |
53 |
73 |
82 |
67 |
|
MNP |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gauteng (GP) |
3 |
26 |
16 |
10 |
|
Mpumalanga (MP) |
6 |
66 |
73 |
16 |
|
Eastern Cape (EC) |
0 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
|
Limpopo (LP) |
20 |
43 |
34 |
36 |
|
North West (NW) |
8 |
32 |
21 |
2 |
|
Free State (FS) |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) |
27 |
20 |
4 |
25 |
|
Western Cape (WC) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Northern Cape (NC) |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
117 |
267 |
232 |
165 |
For media queries contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
