A white rhinoceros and her calf. File picture: Mike Hutchings/Reuters A white rhinoceros and her calf. File picture: Mike Hutchings/Reuters
DURBAN - Two rangers at the Kruger National Park have been arrested for alleged involvement in animal poaching, the South African National Parks (SANParks) said.
They were arrested on Tuesday during an anti-poaching operation with fellow rangers and the police.
“During the arrest, a heavy calibre firearm, ammunition and poaching-related equipment were confiscated. Both suspects were taken into custody at the 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 arrest, 12 suspected poachers were arrested and firearms, along with poaching equipment, confiscated in operations in the park this month.
SANParks said a total of 18 people have been nabbed so far during anti-poaching operations in the park.
Executive manager Glenn Phillips warned that the park will 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.”