Bumper Week of Poacher Arrests in the Kruger with Help from Canine Team

South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced the arrest of 14 suspected poachers in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in the past seven days, with thanks in part to SA’s awesome canine team! According to KNP, the K9 units have successfully tracked and taken down over 90% of the poachers arrested in the Kruger over the past 10 months.

The arrests are all related to rhino poaching – all the suspects were found in possession of ammunition, five high calibre rifles and other poaching equipment.

This week’s 14 suspects were apprehended in different sections of the Kruger, in a team effort by the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), the SA Police Services (SAPS) and SANParks.

In a statement, SANParks says: “These poachers, who were willing to compromise their morals for quick money, will now sit behind bars for a significant period of time, their families will be without breadwinners and will now be left in poverty. Crime does not pay.”

SANParks added that “these successes further confirm the fact that the ongoing implementation of the KNP counter poaching tactics including, dedicated and experienced Rangers on the ground, new technologies and the Special Ranger Airborne response and in particular K9 tracking are paying dividends.”

The arrests were hailed as a success by the Managing Executive in the KNP Glenn Phillips who said: “We are incredibly honoured to have such dedicated and committed Rangers and Protection services officials who are committed to operate under extreme environmental conditions to ensure the survival of these prehistoric animals and all other fauna and flora.

“We want to make it clear to poachers and their handlers that the Kruger is becoming a very dangerous place. Rangers are ready and waiting to put you behind bars. We have a long way to go but we will not lose this fight.”

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