Rangers in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu Natal (Zuid-Afrika) doden neushoornstroper en verwonden er twee

KZN rhino poacher killed, 2 wounded

29-12-2009 Author: Diane Macpherson, East Coast Radio Durban, South Africa


A suspected rhino poacher has been shot dead by rangers in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Two others have been wounded. They're believed to have shot and killed a white rhino in the south eastern part of the game reserve on Christmas Day.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's Jeff Gaisford says rangers had responded to the sounds of gunfire on Christmas night.
Upon investigation, they discovered a group of suspected poachers inside the park.

They challenged them, and the intruders raised their rifles towards them, sparking an exchange of gunfire.

"In the ensuing exchange of gunfire one suspected poacher was shot dead and two others sustained gunshot wounds. The EKZNW staff immediately gave the wounded suspects first aid treatment and they were duly evacuated by ambulance to a nearby hospital where they remain under SAPS guard," said spokesperson Jeff Gaisford.

In a subsequent search of the area two freshly removed rhino horns, two .308 rifles with slings, two axes and various other items of equipment, including cellphones, were collected.

"At dawn the next morning (26 December 2009) EKZNW staff accompanied by members of the SAPS conducted a helicopter search of the area and found the carcass of an adult male white rhino on the banks of the White Umfolozi River in the Slevane area in the south eastern part of iMfolozi," said Gaisford.

“We regret that a life has been lost in this incident but I would like to reiterate that those who think they can plunder our wildlife resources do so at their peril,” said Sifiso Kheswa, EKZNW General Manager for Zululand.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, four men have been arrested in the Hluhluwe area for being in possession of two black rhino horns.
They confessed they had killed the animal in the wilderness area of the Eastern Shores of the iSimangalison Wetland Park.

(Bron: http://www.ecr.co.za/)