Two members of a poaching gang are shot dead by South African police and three more arrested after six rhinos were killed in just 24 hours in a wildlife park
The suspected poachers were mowed down after being ambushed and outgunned in the early hours of Sunday morning in a huge offensive against the gangs devastating wild rhinos in South Africa.
So far this year, 142 rhinos have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal alone with a confirmed death toll of more than 20 the weekend before last.
Six of the rhinos were killed at just one park in less than 24 hours.
Three suspected rhino poachers were arrested near two national parks in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. During the arrest, a huting rifle (pictured, an axe and other items were seized
The suspected poachers were mowed down after being ambushed and outgunned in the early hours of Sunday morning in a huge offensive against the gangs devastating wild rhinos in South Africa. Pictured above, items seized by the poachers
Ezemevelo KZN Wildlife field rangers had been hunting the gang believed to be behind the massacre when they arrested three heavily armed men outside the park in an armed swoop on Saturday.
They were caught red handed with a high calibre hunting rifle, a silence, ammunition and an axe.
Intelligence gained from the arrests is believed to have led to the shootout on Sunday morning.
South African police arrested men, aged 44, 28 and 24, were interrogated in the bush and then taken to the police station where they were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Ezemvelo field rangers then ambushed five more poachers in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi game park at 3.30am on Sunday while patrolling the Nqolothi section when they heard voices.
Two other suspected poachers were later shot dead in close-range gunfire. Pictured above, bullets seized by the suspected poachers
The turned on their flashlights and ordered the poachers to lay down their weapons but when the gang aimed their weapons at them, the rangers opened fire at close range killing two instantly.
The other three poachers fled into the night, and an ongoing security operation with tracker dogs and a helicopter is underway to try and catch them as they try to flee to safety in the dense African bush.
Ezemvelo spokemsan Musa Mntambo told News 24:'Our rangers observed a group of five poachers and turned on their flashlights simultaneously ordering the poachers to lay down their weapons.
'One poacher pointed a gun towards the field rangers but he was outgunned. The rangers fired first and two poachers were fatally wounded and a rifle was recovered. Three managed to escape in the shootout'.
It is understood the dead suspects were from the Melmoth area of KZN and investigators are linking them to the evidence from last Sunday's massacre of six rhinos at the same nature reserve.
Mntambo said: 'This syndicate is known to the police and Ezemvelo authorities'.
Last week saw a heart-breaking photo of an orphaned baby rhino standing next to its dead mother after she was slaughtered for her horn which became the symbol for the weekend massacres
The South African Police Service are convinced the two poaches killed were working together with the three suspects who were arrested in a joint operation between SAPS Rhino 8 and Ezemvelo Field Rangers on Saturday morning near Hluhluwe town.
During this operation, a 458 hunting rifle with nine rounds of ammunition was recovered.
The Acting CEO of Ezemvelo, Mr Sthabiso Chiliza has expressed his appreciation regarding the latest success that the province has had in its fight against rhino poaching.
He said:'It is always a pleasant feeling when you know that the efforts of our Field staff as well as that of the SAPS are bearing fruit.
'Taking out five poachers in less than 24 hours is a huge achievement and I take my hat off to all those who were involved. We shall not relax until we arrest those who escaped as well as their handlers.'
The breakthrough follows a month of rampant poaching and an unprecedented surge of activity by the heavily armed gangs.
In 2017 KZN became increasingly the target of gangs and is currently regarded as the epicentre of South Africa's rhino poaching activity and it is feared they could lose 250 by the end of the year.
There are only 20,000 white rhino left in with 1000 slaughtered every year in South Africa with gangs become increasingly heavily armed to reap rich financial rewards in return for the rhino horn.
The Kruger National Park was previously the main target of poachers but heightened security and initiatives and multiple arrests have driven them to try softer targets.
Last week saw a heart-breaking photo of an orphaned baby rhino standing next to its dead mother after she was slaughtered for her horn which became the symbol for the weekend massacres.
The picture of the calf was posted on line by anti-poaching campaigners after nine rhinos were killed on one private farm and another six rhinos were killed at the reserve where two men were shot dead.
White rhinos are the second largest land mammal in the world after the elephant and kilo of horn is worth £23,000 (£29,600) – making it more valuable than a kilo of gold at £19,000 ($24,500).
The horn is made from a protein called keratin which is the same substance finger nails and hair are made from.
Rhinos can weight up to 2.5tons, can be six feet tall and run at up to 30mph.
Since 2007 more than 6000 rhinos have been shot and butchered for their horns in South Africa with the majority in the last four years with the butchers board recording 1,000 a year at present.
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4681880/Members-poaching-gang-shot-South-African-police.html
- WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
- Ezemevelo KZN Wildlife rangers ambushed the poaching game early on Sunday
- Three men were arrested and led them to other members of the poaching gang
- Two men were shot dead in close-range gunfire and three others are on the run
- So far this year, 142 rhinos have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, alone with a confirmed death toll of more than 20 the weekend before last
The suspected poachers were mowed down after being ambushed and outgunned in the early hours of Sunday morning in a huge offensive against the gangs devastating wild rhinos in South Africa.
So far this year, 142 rhinos have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal alone with a confirmed death toll of more than 20 the weekend before last.
Six of the rhinos were killed at just one park in less than 24 hours.
Three suspected rhino poachers were arrested near two national parks in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. During the arrest, a huting rifle (pictured, an axe and other items were seized
The suspected poachers were mowed down after being ambushed and outgunned in the early hours of Sunday morning in a huge offensive against the gangs devastating wild rhinos in South Africa. Pictured above, items seized by the poachers
Ezemevelo KZN Wildlife field rangers had been hunting the gang believed to be behind the massacre when they arrested three heavily armed men outside the park in an armed swoop on Saturday.
They were caught red handed with a high calibre hunting rifle, a silence, ammunition and an axe.
Intelligence gained from the arrests is believed to have led to the shootout on Sunday morning.
South African police arrested men, aged 44, 28 and 24, were interrogated in the bush and then taken to the police station where they were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Ezemvelo field rangers then ambushed five more poachers in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi game park at 3.30am on Sunday while patrolling the Nqolothi section when they heard voices.
Two other suspected poachers were later shot dead in close-range gunfire. Pictured above, bullets seized by the suspected poachers
The turned on their flashlights and ordered the poachers to lay down their weapons but when the gang aimed their weapons at them, the rangers opened fire at close range killing two instantly.
The other three poachers fled into the night, and an ongoing security operation with tracker dogs and a helicopter is underway to try and catch them as they try to flee to safety in the dense African bush.
Ezemvelo spokemsan Musa Mntambo told News 24:'Our rangers observed a group of five poachers and turned on their flashlights simultaneously ordering the poachers to lay down their weapons.
'One poacher pointed a gun towards the field rangers but he was outgunned. The rangers fired first and two poachers were fatally wounded and a rifle was recovered. Three managed to escape in the shootout'.
It is understood the dead suspects were from the Melmoth area of KZN and investigators are linking them to the evidence from last Sunday's massacre of six rhinos at the same nature reserve.
Mntambo said: 'This syndicate is known to the police and Ezemvelo authorities'.
Last week saw a heart-breaking photo of an orphaned baby rhino standing next to its dead mother after she was slaughtered for her horn which became the symbol for the weekend massacres
The South African Police Service are convinced the two poaches killed were working together with the three suspects who were arrested in a joint operation between SAPS Rhino 8 and Ezemvelo Field Rangers on Saturday morning near Hluhluwe town.
During this operation, a 458 hunting rifle with nine rounds of ammunition was recovered.
The Acting CEO of Ezemvelo, Mr Sthabiso Chiliza has expressed his appreciation regarding the latest success that the province has had in its fight against rhino poaching.
He said:'It is always a pleasant feeling when you know that the efforts of our Field staff as well as that of the SAPS are bearing fruit.
'Taking out five poachers in less than 24 hours is a huge achievement and I take my hat off to all those who were involved. We shall not relax until we arrest those who escaped as well as their handlers.'
The breakthrough follows a month of rampant poaching and an unprecedented surge of activity by the heavily armed gangs.
In 2017 KZN became increasingly the target of gangs and is currently regarded as the epicentre of South Africa's rhino poaching activity and it is feared they could lose 250 by the end of the year.
There are only 20,000 white rhino left in with 1000 slaughtered every year in South Africa with gangs become increasingly heavily armed to reap rich financial rewards in return for the rhino horn.
The Kruger National Park was previously the main target of poachers but heightened security and initiatives and multiple arrests have driven them to try softer targets.
Last week saw a heart-breaking photo of an orphaned baby rhino standing next to its dead mother after she was slaughtered for her horn which became the symbol for the weekend massacres.
The picture of the calf was posted on line by anti-poaching campaigners after nine rhinos were killed on one private farm and another six rhinos were killed at the reserve where two men were shot dead.
White rhinos are the second largest land mammal in the world after the elephant and kilo of horn is worth £23,000 (£29,600) – making it more valuable than a kilo of gold at £19,000 ($24,500).
The horn is made from a protein called keratin which is the same substance finger nails and hair are made from.
Rhinos can weight up to 2.5tons, can be six feet tall and run at up to 30mph.
Since 2007 more than 6000 rhinos have been shot and butchered for their horns in South Africa with the majority in the last four years with the butchers board recording 1,000 a year at present.
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4681880/Members-poaching-gang-shot-South-African-police.html
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