Kruger National Park rangers arrested a suspected rhino killer from Mozambique.
Kruger National Park rangers have arrested a suspect who entered the park from Mozambique for the purpose of killing rhinos for their horns. A hunting rifle was also confiscated.
The suspect, a Mozambique national, was part of a trio. Two others managed to escape back across the border.
During the operation, two Field Rangers were injured when the rhino that was being targeted ran into them. They are currently being treated for their injuries, which are not life-threatening.
According to SANParks, 232 rhino have been slaughtered in 2010 throughout South Africa (104 of these in Kruger National Park). Of 119 arrests suspected poacher arrests, 45 were made in the Park.
Illegal rhino horn business ‘booming’
Rhino poaching has returned to South Africa with a vengeance and the illegal rhino horn business is booming. The killing has reached a 16-year high, with more than 600 rhinos slaughtered since 2005.
Illegal rhino horn is still in high demand for traditional medicines in China and Vietnam, despite the fact that rhino horn has been extensively analyzed and found to be of no medicinal value.
Most rhino horn leaving southern Africa is destined for China and Vietnam, according to the latest research by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.
Source: SANParks
Image: Wikimedia Commons
![Rhino Horns and Trophies Exported to Asia from South Africa 2000 – 2010 [Infographic]](http://www.rhinoconservation.org/wp-content/plugins/special-recent-posts/lib/phpimage.php?width=100&height=100&rotation=no&file=L2hvbWUyL2Jpb2RpdmUxL3B1YmxpY19odG1sL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDEyLzA1L1JoaW5vVHJvcGhpZXNIb3Juc0luZm9ncmFwaGljVGh1bWJuYWlsLmpwZw==)
It’s so sad reading about things like this. The work the Kruger Park rangers do is inspiring. There’s a site here that has some more information about rangers: http://www.kruger-national-park-guide.com/kruger-park-rangers.html