South African rangers kill two rhino poachers in Kruger National Park

James.Grage

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South African rangers kill two rhino poachers in Kruger National Park
Two killed in dawn exchange of gunfire at Kruger National Park as South Africa battles rhino poaching crisis
Kruger_National_Pa_3154466b.jpg

Kruger National Park staff relocates a rhino from a high risk poaching area to a safer area in October 2014 Photo: AFP PHOTO/STEFAN HEUNIS

AFP

1:28PM GMT 05 Jan 2015

Rangers on patrol at South Africa's famed Kruger National Park killed two suspected rhino poachers on Monday during a dawn exchange of gunfire, a parks official said.

"There was a shoot-out and two of the three suspected poachers were fatally wounded," South African National Parks spokesman William Mabasa told AFP.

The third suspect escaped during the incident which took place around 5am (0300 GMT) in the vast park roughly the size of Wales.

South Africa is battling a rhino poaching crisis, with over 1,000 animals slaughtered for their horns in 2014, around 700 of them in the Kruger National Park.

According to the last statistics released by the government, 1,020 rhino had been killed in the country by November 20 last year – already a record-high even without December's numbers included.

The preceding year saw 1,004 beasts poached across the country.

The killings have prompted the government to adopt a plan to evacuate the animals from Kruger to safety zones, including neighbouring countries.

Demand for rhinoceros horn – which is made of keratin, also found in hair and nails – has skyrocketed in recent years, largely driven by the market in Asia, where the powdered horn is valued for its purported medicinal properties.
 

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Glad they got them. Perhaps a few more of these will begin to discourage the Kruger poaching.
 
This is great news! Sounds like justice was served very quickly!!! Hopefully this will make poachers think twice.
 
Glad they got them. Perhaps a few more of these will begin to discourage the Kruger poaching.
There are about 25 million more replacements in Mozambique.
 
keep up the good work guys
 
Good medicine! Save the taxpayer from paying for them to rot in jail!

R.
 
GOOD! Shoot some more!
 
South African rangers kill two rhino poachers in Kruger National Park
Two killed in dawn exchange of gunfire at Kruger National Park as South Africa battles rhino poaching crisis
Kruger_National_Pa_3154466b.jpg

Kruger National Park staff relocates a rhino from a high risk poaching area to a safer area in October 2014 Photo: AFP PHOTO/STEFAN HEUNIS

AFP

1:28PM GMT 05 Jan 2015

Rangers on patrol at South Africa's famed Kruger National Park killed two suspected rhino poachers on Monday during a dawn exchange of gunfire, a parks official said.

"There was a shoot-out and two of the three suspected poachers were fatally wounded," South African National Parks spokesman William Mabasa told AFP.

The third suspect escaped during the incident which took place around 5am (0300 GMT) in the vast park roughly the size of Wales.

South Africa is battling a rhino poaching crisis, with over 1,000 animals slaughtered for their horns in 2014, around 700 of them in the Kruger National Park.

According to the last statistics released by the government, 1,020 rhino had been killed in the country by November 20 last year – already a record-high even without December's numbers included.

The preceding year saw 1,004 beasts poached across the country.

The killings have prompted the government to adopt a plan to evacuate the animals from Kruger to safety zones, including neighbouring countries.

Demand for rhinoceros horn – which is made of keratin, also found in hair and nails – has skyrocketed in recent years, largely driven by the market in Asia, where the powdered horn is valued for its purported medicinal properties.
It is so sad to think of all those rhinos that have been slaughtered just for their horns. Yes .......you can blame the Asians for this travesty. I cant imagine why anyone would want to put ground up toe nail in your mouth ??? What idiots. They seem to think that it puts more lead in their pencil........wrong !!!! They also say that they do not just catch sharks to cut off their fins for soup ( another delicacy in Asia)but the fact of the matter is....there is so much evidence to substantiate that they do just the opposite of what they claim and they do catch sharks and they do cut off the fins and they do then throw the carcass back into the ocean. All hunters from all over the world should contact their United Nations Representative and have them pass laws to protect not only the rhino but elephants as well and any other animal/ fish that is on either the Endangered Species list or close to being placed on the list !!!!! We as hunters should be appalled by this behavior and do what we can to help . Even if it means that we have fundraisers to help by sending money to the local states within Africa to help the Rangers fight the poachers. They are saying that if the poaching continues on the rhinos the way it is now....by the end of 2018 there will NOT be anymore rhinos roaming freely in Africa. We can NOT allow this illegal behavior to continue if we truly call ourselves Hunters and Conservationists.
 
Guess they got what they deserve.
 
When the bounty on a poacher becomes more valuable than a rhino horn, the tides will change
 
It is so sad to think of all those rhinos that have been slaughtered just for their horns. Yes .......you can blame the Asians for this travesty. I cant imagine why anyone would want to put ground up toe nail in your mouth ??? What idiots. They seem to think that it puts more lead in their pencil........wrong !!!! They also say that they do not just catch sharks to cut off their fins for soup ( another delicacy in Asia)but the fact of the matter is....there is so much evidence to substantiate that they do just the opposite of what they claim and they do catch sharks and they do cut off the fins and they do then throw the carcass back into the ocean. All hunters from all over the world should contact their United Nations Representative and have them pass laws to protect not only the rhino but elephants as well and any other animal/ fish that is on either the Endangered Species list or close to being placed on the list !!!!! We as hunters should be appalled by this behavior and do what we can to help . Even if it means that we have fundraisers to help by sending money to the local states within Africa to help the Rangers fight the poachers. They are saying that if the poaching continues on the rhinos the way it is now....by the end of 2018 there will NOT be anymore rhinos roaming freely in Africa. We can NOT allow this illegal behavior to continue if we truly call ourselves Hunters and Conservationists.

Actually, I think there are lot of people to blame for this event, and the poachers and Asians are but two in a long chain of people who should bear responsibility for unnecessary human deaths and the poaching of these animals. In order of importance, in my opinion:

1. CITES, which, against all evidence that bans don't work, continues to insist on a ban in the trade in Rhino horn. This is the causa sine qua non (I never get to use Latin!) of the rhino crisis today.

2. Poaching syndicates, who take advantage of poverty and otherwise criminal people to make enormous amounts of money for themselves with almost no risk.

3. Governments in Africa which also continue to insist on bans and won't allocate the resources to properly protect those animals which they refuse to give a value to, even though it would be a simple matter to de-horn rhino and sell the horns.

4. Governments around the world, particularly the US, which continue to support failed wildlife management strategies for emotional (or political, which is often the same thing), rather than logical, reasons (gee, it's working so well for elephants, let's copy that experience with rhino . . .oh wait, it isn't working there either).

5. Anti-hunting organizations, which have no incentive to stop the rhino poaching, and every incentive to have it continue, since every animal death - and the more brutal the better - results in more opportunities for fund raising, almost none of which is ever spent to help animals or those who live with them.

6. Poachers, most of whom are nothing more than common criminals. Even having said that, we don't believe that the penalty for poaching an animal in North America should be death, yet we seem to think that poaching an animal in Africa should be death.

7. Poverty, which might drive some of the poachers to risk their lives for these animals (I say might because many, if not most, are just criminals), but most importantly, results in local populations believing that the world values the lives of animals more than their lives or the lives of their children (Cecil, anyone?) and thus makes them more receptive to the existence of poaching.

8. Asians, who create a market for this essentially useless product. I put them last, not because they aren't culpable, but because there are lots of essentially useless products for sale in the world today, and we let those sales go on. Making money on the backs of misguided people is just fine, so long as it doesn't involve an animal we might want to save. If you thought that buying a rhino horn would cure your loved one of cancer, what would you do? We see this every day with fake cancer cures in North America, and we don't criminalize the people who believe in such nonsense. We don't call them "idiots." We call them "vulnerable.' But I guess it's different when it's Asians who believe in this nonsense.

Yes, as hunters we bear a special responsibility in the fight against poaching. But with respect Mr. Melcher, the laws you speak of haven't worked in the past. We don't need more. We need different.
 
With all the bad news flooding the news stations these days, we finally have some good news. Like a ray of sunshine. ..
 
When the bounty on a poacher becomes more valuable than a rhino horn, the tides will change
Hell..I would do it for free if they let me !!! I will supply my own guns and ammo and camo. I certainly have the training to go after them. After all..........they are lowest of predators and smell like hippo poop !!! Cant be to hard to smell them......." They can run....but they will only die tired " I am a firm believer in 7.62 justice !!!!
 
If th
Actually, I think there are lot of people to blame for this event, and the poachers and Asians are but two in a long chain of people who should bear responsibility for unnecessary human deaths and the poaching of these animals. In order of importance, in my opinion:

1. CITES, which, against all evidence that bans don't work, continues to insist on a ban in the trade in Rhino horn. This is the causa sine qua non (I never get to use Latin!) of the rhino crisis today.

2. Poaching syndicates, who take advantage of poverty and otherwise criminal people to make enormous amounts of money for themselves with almost no risk.

3. Governments in Africa which also continue to insist on bans and won't allocate the resources to properly protect those animals which they refuse to give a value to, even though it would be a simple matter to de-horn rhino and sell the horns.

4. Governments around the world, particularly the US, which continue to support failed wildlife management strategies for emotional (or political, which is often the same thing), rather than logical, reasons (gee, it's working so well for elephants, let's copy that experience with rhino . . .oh wait, it isn't working there either).

5. Anti-hunting organizations, which have no incentive to stop the rhino poaching, and every incentive to have it continue, since every animal death - and the more brutal the better - results in more opportunities for fund raising, almost none of which is ever spent to help animals or those who live with them.

6. Poachers, most of whom are nothing more than common criminals. Even having said that, we don't believe that the penalty for poaching an animal in North America should be death, yet we seem to think that poaching an animal in Africa should be death.

7. Poverty, which might drive some of the poachers to risk their lives for these animals (I say might because many, if not most, are just criminals), but most importantly, results in local populations believing that the world values the lives of animals more than their lives or the lives of their children (Cecil, anyone?) and thus makes them more receptive to the existence of poaching.

8. Asians, who create a market for this essentially useless product. I put them last, not because they aren't culpable, but because there are lots of essentially useless products for sale in the world today, and we let those sales go on. Making money on the backs of misguided people is just fine, so long as it doesn't involve an animal we might want to save. If you thought that buying a rhino horn would cure your loved one of cancer, what would you do? We see this every day with fake cancer cures in North America, and we don't criminalize the people who believe in such nonsense. We don't call them "idiots." We call them "vulnerable.' But I guess it's different when it's Asians who believe in this nonsense.

Yes, as hunters we bear a special responsibility in the fight against poaching. But with respect Mr. Melcher, the laws you speak of haven't worked in the past. We don't need more. We need different.
If perhaps the countries that support a rhino and elephant population would possibly allow the legal sale of rhino horn and elephant ivory, maybe ...just maybe then we would see a decline in poaching of both species. There has to be severe punishment for any poaching crimes. Living in upstate NY up in the mountains, I hear rifle shots year round. But mostly during the evening hours and more often as the rifle season for big game in NY begins. Poachers here do not sell the meat of illegally taken game , they keep it for themselves and close family and friends. Some get caught and arrested by our Game Wardens and fined and also their rifles taken away for good, the meat as well , which then goes to a local soup food pantry for the poor ) and they are fined and loose their hunting privileges for a period of time. And do you know what happens.....they ( most of them ) go and do the same thing the following year and do NOT care one bit about being caught, fined, and loosing hunting privileges. In order to have a real effect on poaching here I feel they should also receive a prison term as well. How much poaching do you think that they will want to do when they are finally released after a lengthy prison sentence ?. They will probably will loose their jobs while in prison, good possibility their wives and family their homes as well. Make the punishment severe enough to make them rethink about poaching ever again !!! I understand about the poverty in Africa and see the situation that exists from hungry villagers which in turn may cause them to lean towards poaching as a means of feeding their families. I also know that each village is allocated a certain number of game animals to help feed the villagers. Perhaps maybe more thought should be given to increasing the number of animals allocated for each village. Maybe that will help reduce poaching of Rhinos and Elephants. I know also that most of the big game that is shot by legal hunters that have booked their hunt with a PH, that the meat is also given to the local villages. I think that is a wonderful idea. We here in NY can donate some or all of our wild game harvest to local food pantries to help feed the hungry. I am sorry if I seem like I am a " ArmChair Quarterback " because truly that is not what I am trying to be...I assure you. I do NOT want the Rhinos and Elephants to be exterminated by greedy poachers which in turn probably do not get much themselves for the horns or tusks when they sell them to their buyers. But maybe if the governments in Africa allow controlled hunting of both species and the sale of their horns and ivory on the open market, maybe then the illegally taking of both species will almost stop all together ???? I mean what incentive will there be if you are getting next to nothing for a horn or tusk that is taken illegally ??? I do not know everything and certainly I am open to other ideas that others may offer including yourself !!! It will be an absolute shame if both species are eradicated from the African continent. Very sad indeed for all of mankind !!!!!
 
" OUTSTANDING " News !!!!! I just thought of a new sport that would have alot of interest with hunting clients in Africa......" Sporting Poacher " !!! Put the caught poachers in catapults in different locations and launch them while walking a shooting course with shotgun in hand. !!!!
 
I like it, but they should also de-nut every chinaman they catch having something to do with it.
 
What are the day rates for this hunt? and are poachers importable?
 
I find it distasteful to celebrate the death of a human being.
 
Hank2211 you made some very valid points!
 

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