According to Colonel Ronel Otto of the South African police, cited by the South African Press Agency (SAPA), “two rhino poachers, one from Mozambique and one from South Africa, will spend the next fifteen years behind bars after they were sentenced in the Phalaborwa Magistrate's Court earlier this week”.
Mozambican citizen Inaso Makhubela and South African Jorudo Ngobeni were found guilty of hunting special protected game, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition and trespassing.
“The two suspects shot and killed a rhino and then dehorned the animal. They were caught by rangers patrolling the farm as they were leaving the scene,” Otto said.
Figures published in February show that between 2008 and the beginning of that month, South African forces killed 279 Mozambicans involved in rhino poaching. A further 300 Mozambicans were detained for poaching between 2008 and the end of 2012. Some of the Mozambicans killed or arrested have turned out to be members of the Frontier Guard or of the armed forces.
The South Africans have made it very clear that they will use all means at their disposal to defend the Kruger Park from poachers.
Yet the enormous sums paid in China and Vietnam for rhino horn mean that poachers are still prepared to risk their lives. Currently rhino horn is fetching 65,000 US dollars a kilo in Vietnam, where it is believed to cure everything from hangovers to cancer.
Post published in: Africa News
“…where it is believed to cure everything from hangovers to cancer.”
Should read “where it is proven NOT to cure everything from hangovers to cancer.”
There is now scientific proof that use of rhino horn for medicinal purposes causes serious brain, bone, and birth defects and even death in users of this falsely assumed cure procedures. Rita, MD
True, we have been conducting research on the misuse of rhino horn substance. We have determined a causal link between rhino horn ingestion and sterility, impotency and perhaps death.