Wild dog (Lycaon pictus) - the African Wild Dog is one of the most endangered species in the world. Their numbers have declined severely over the years due to disease, loss of habitat and human persecution which is mainly due to a lack of education.
South African National Parks (SANParks) announced today that while on patrol in the early evening of 21 November 2010 rangers from the Kruger National Park (KNP) fatally wounded a suspected poacher inside the park.
According to the SANParks Head of Communications, Wanda Mkutshulwa, the rangers were patrolling in the Houtbosrand section of the park, in the eastern border with Mozambique, when they came across three suspected poachers who opened fire on the rangers. The SANParks rangers returned fire and one of the suspects was wounded, while other two escaped.
Efforts to revive the suspect before medical help arrived were unfortunately unsuccessful.
The other two are still at large. The police and rangers have been following their spore. Investigations are continuing.
A rhino carcass was found in an area near the scene but it is unclear at this stage if this is related to the spotted suspects.
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.
