National
Desperate measures to combat rhino poaching─── 12:01 Mon, 20 May 2013
Kruger Park – Rangers in the Kruger National Park have resorted to war like tactics in their fight against rhino poachers in South Africa. According to a report by Timeslive, guerilla tactics and clandestine intelligence gathering has all become part of the battle.
“We are fighting a war” Kruger Park head honorary ranger, Louis Lemmer told Timeslive journalist. Using AK47 the rangers describe their battle as an “insurgency-like war.” According to Lemmer every full moon up to 60 heavily armed groups of poachers enter the Park.
In order to combat this guides, conservationists and rangers are being trained to track, ambush, gather intelligence and wage counter-assault operations. Lemmer added that the risk involved in the anti-poaching battle is enormous and rangers are putting their lives at risk.
The poachers are highly trained and many have fought in wars, according to Lemmer.
Despite the large amount of energy and resources going into the battle against poaching rhino numbers are still dwindling fast. Last week the Department of Environmental Affairs announced that 313 rhino were poached this year so far. Of that number 229 were in the Kruger National Park.
Park rangers are equipped with state of the art paramilitary equipment, although equipment requirements change often as poachers adapt and change their tactics.
SA National Parks spokesperson, Ike Phaahla said this constant updating of equipment is critical. “The last thing you need is for rangers to be frustrated by lack of equipment to fight this war.” He added that extra rangers had been hired to fight poaching, but more are still needed.
SANParks have hired retired Major-general Johan Jooste to direct the battle against poaching. He is co-ordinating the park’s armed forces and strategies in the insurgency war, Paahla told Timeslive.
SA Breaking News
“We are fighting a war” Kruger Park head honorary ranger, Louis Lemmer told Timeslive journalist. Using AK47 the rangers describe their battle as an “insurgency-like war.” According to Lemmer every full moon up to 60 heavily armed groups of poachers enter the Park.
In order to combat this guides, conservationists and rangers are being trained to track, ambush, gather intelligence and wage counter-assault operations. Lemmer added that the risk involved in the anti-poaching battle is enormous and rangers are putting their lives at risk.
The poachers are highly trained and many have fought in wars, according to Lemmer.
Despite the large amount of energy and resources going into the battle against poaching rhino numbers are still dwindling fast. Last week the Department of Environmental Affairs announced that 313 rhino were poached this year so far. Of that number 229 were in the Kruger National Park.
Park rangers are equipped with state of the art paramilitary equipment, although equipment requirements change often as poachers adapt and change their tactics.
SA National Parks spokesperson, Ike Phaahla said this constant updating of equipment is critical. “The last thing you need is for rangers to be frustrated by lack of equipment to fight this war.” He added that extra rangers had been hired to fight poaching, but more are still needed.
SANParks have hired retired Major-general Johan Jooste to direct the battle against poaching. He is co-ordinating the park’s armed forces and strategies in the insurgency war, Paahla told Timeslive.
SA Breaking News
