Suspected poachers arrested in park

AN ANTI-poaching operation led to the arrest of two alleged animal poachers in the Kruger National Park, said SA National Parks (SANParks) yesterday.

They were arrested on Tuesday during an operation by rangers and the police at the park.

“Dring the arrest a heavy-calibre firearm, ammunition and poachingrelated equipment were confiscated. Both suspects were taken into custody at Skukuza police station and will appear in court in due course,” SANParks said.

The arrests follow that of a SANParks official and three others on February 15 for alleged poaching. Police confiscated a firearm and a set of rhino horns from the group.

In another bust, 12 suspected poachers were arrested and firearms, along with animal-poaching equipment confiscated in various operations in the park this month.

SANParks said a total of 18 people had been nabbed so far during anti-poaching operations at the Kruger National Park.

Executive manager Glenn Phillips warned that the park would not tolerate illegal activities by its own staff members.

“It is immensely disheartening for the rangers and other law enforcement officials when they have to arrest their own colleagues. We are appealing to our colleagues to stop embarrassing the organisation, their colleagues, friends and family. We are hot on the heels of these criminals masquerading as rangers. It is time to come clean and help us uproot those criminal elements in our Ranger Corps.”