Two field rangers at the Nwanedzi Ranger Section of the Kruger National Park were arrested on June 18 for alleged involvement in rhino poaching activities, SANParks said on Monday.
“The arrest of the two field rangers was the culmination of an extensive follow-up operation conducted after a poached rhino carcass, with horns removed, was located by the Nwanedzi rangers on June 16. The two suspected field rangers were detained at the Skukuza Police Station pending further investigations and appeared in court today,” said the CEO of SANParks, Fundisile Mketeni.
This arrest follows closely on the suspension of two field rangers attached to the Special Operations unit in Skukuza on June 8 and the arrest of a field ranger based at Satara, and a technical services supervisor based at Skukuza, on June 9. Both arrested employees have already appeared in court. “We are constantly on alert and that is what led to the arrests of these individuals,” said Mketeni.
“The suspensions and arrests are the result of on-going investigations by SANParks into rhino poaching activities in the KNP, and we therefore would like to congratulate the KNP Rangers, SANParks Environmental Crime Investigation (ECI) unit and South African Police Service for doing a good job and remind them that this is a battle we cannot afford to lose. We need to fight for our heritage,” concluded Mketeni.
