Reaction unit established to combat illegal poachers targeting the Kruger Park.
Park and tour owners have recently been able to breathe a sigh of relief as the South African government has recently agreed on establishing a reaction unit focused specifically on targeting rhino poaching crimes that have been occurring within the Kruger Park and other parks in South Africa. These wildlife crimes have affected the park in the past few years as Rhino’s have been killed for their ivory, which is said to be sold in the Far East where there is a steep demand for the horn.
Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica recently announced that the South African government will be dedicating 2 million rands to this cause in order to establish the unit and fight this wildlife crime as well as the violent poaching against the innocent rhino. The unit will however not be alone in their fight against these poachers as the Green Scorpions and the Department of Justice will aid them with investigation and persecution in order to get rhino poaching syndicates behind bars and protect South African wildlife.
These rhino poaching crimes will be registered under environmental crimes and will now have dedicated times in regional and district courts around the country. Environmentalists believe that this move is imperative as in this year alone, 55 rhino’s have been poached in South Africa – making it obvious that rhino poaching is an escalating crime problem.
The unit would not only consist of investigation and prosecution actions but will hire park patrolling officials to make sure that the animals are protected at all times from rhino poaching. Officials say that poachers work in groups and hire desperate individuals to kill the rhino’s and bring the tusks to them. Some of these syndicates have already been jailed but there are many more that are still free and they continue to perform rhino poaching and disrupt the wildlife community.
In conjunction with other efforts to bring rhino poaching individuals to justice, this unit is hoping to preserve wildlife in parks around South Africa and let tourists and locals alike enjoy the Kruger Park as well as the other parks around South Africa that let you view these rhino as well as other majestic animals in their natural habitat.
Tags: kruger park, rhino poaching
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