Rhino files: Number of rhino poached at an all-time high

Rhino count:

860 rhino poached so far this year – the highest ever – of which 521 have been poached in the Kruger National Park, 87 in Limpopo and 82 in North West Province.

 

Sentences:

Two rhino poachers were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each by the Vryheid Magistrates Court in Kwa-Zulu Natal last week, for poaching a black rhino & possession of two rhino horns. The men Philani Khanyile and Nhlathu Siyaya – were arrested at a roadblock in November 2010. The rhino horns were discovered in their vehicle.

 

Arrests:

The Department of Environmental Affairs has commended the SANParks rangers & the police for their sterling efforts that have led to the arrest of 13 rhino poaching suspects countrywide in the last 2 weeks.

 

This brings the total arrests to 285 this year.  Of those arrests, 104 were made in Kruger National Park, 62 in Limpopo and 58 in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

 

Hawks Hotline:

If you suspect anything may be threatening rhinos in your area, or if you have any information which you believe could help lead to an arrest, please call the Hawks Rhino Hotline on 071 348 8630 - All calls are confidential.