Kruger National Park Poaching Arrests Made

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African wildlife officials say a ranger is among four Kruger National Park workers arrested on rhinoceros poaching charges.

In a statement Wednesday, the national parks department said the four were arrested Tuesday by officers investigating the killing of two rhinos whose corpses were found earlier that day. The animals had been shot and stripped of their horns, which are prized among some who believe they have medicinal powers.

The parks department says the ranger arrested is among scores who have been striking for higher pay since early February.

Across the country, 80 rhinos have been poached since the beginning of 2012, more than half in Kruger, the country's flagship park. Last year, a record 448 rhinos were poached in South Africa.

Comments

[janejoy]

09:52 PM on 03/01/2012

Talk about ultimate betrayal.......Poor rhino's never stood a chance....People are despicable.

[olitenup]

07:44 PM on 03/01/2012

OMG. Just as tragic as the what is happening here to our own native species, compliments of congress.

[karen lyons kalmenson]

05:43 AM on 03/01/2012

poaching is a terrible tragedy and when the enemy is guarding the gate, that much worse

[mlaiuppa]

12:40 AM on 03/01/2012

Cut their noses off, then shoot them.

[bad spelling grammar]

06:40 PM on 02/29/2012

They need to make an example out of these guys in the worst way possible. After they interrogate them for all necessary information I believe a 5-10 year prison sentence is necessary with a whopping $10,000 fine per rhino. Harsh punishments like these needs to be used as a deterrent to prevent people from committing this crime. Rhino horns can be worth up to a quarter million dollars if big enough so fines need to be appropriate. If it was up to me I would issue a life sentence and make the family of the poacher pay up to $50,000 US dollars in fines so the word gets out that Poaching will not be tolerated!

[Gas-Bag]

05:44 PM on 02/29/2012

Make a deal with the guy so that he is willing to name the buyer, then do the same until you nab the person at the top of this chain. The top of the pyramid is who needs to be severely punished to send the message, tapping the peasants that do the dirty work will get the authorities nowhere.