KZN rangers kill 2, arrest 3 suspects

TWO suspected poachers – killed by field rangers in a conservation area in northern KwaZulu-Natal shortly after the arrest of another three suspects – are believed to be part of a larger syndicate.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo said yesterday that the incident took place at the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park’s (HiP) Nqolothi section at around 3.30am yesterday.

“Being a full moon, the rangers were on high alert as incursions often increase during (this time). The rangers patrolling the section heard some human voices nearby. They waited until they could see about five poachers with one carrying a .303 hunting rifle.”

The rangers, he said, then switched on their torches and instructed the poachers to stop and lower their firearms.

“One poacher pointed a gun towards the field rangers but the quick-thinking rangers fired first and two poachers were fatally wounded. (The) rifle was recovered.”

The other three poachers escaped.

A source at Ezemvelo said the group of poachers had first been spotted entering the park at 8.30pm on Saturday and were monitored by rangers.

The source said that poachers were “very violent” and would stop at nothing to get the horns. “The rangers have to do what they can to protect themselves. For the poachers, this is easy money.”

Mntambo said the three other suspected poachers – believed to be part of the same syndicate as the men who were killed – were arrested on Saturday in a joint operation with police and Ezemvelo.

The arrests come after six rhinos were killed and de-horned in the park’s Mbuzane area the previous weekend.