Two men have been sentenced to 15 years and 6 months jail time each for poaching rhinos within the Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa.
The conviction has been a long time coming: Joseph Molapo and Sebastian Mbhombhi were arrested four years ago as they entered the park with a third man, who was later shot dead by rangers. The poachers were armed with high powered hunting rifles and dressed in uniforms resembling those worn by park rangers.
“The trio entered the Kruger National Park illegally with the intention to hunt rhinos for their horns,” said police spokesman Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe. “During the operation, a shootout ensued between the (park) rangers and poachers resulting in one of the suspects being fatally wounded. The remaining two were arrested inside the park.”
KNP contains an estimated 12,000 of South Africa’s 19,000 white rhinos and nearly half of the country’s black rhinos.
Although poaching statistics are not regularly released by the South African government, unofficial estimates put the figure at 300 rhinos poached to date this year in all of South Africa. If accurate, this shows around a 20% decrease from last year.
“We are cautiously optimistic that we are turning the tide on the scourge of poaching,” said Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa. “We attribute this decline to the multifaceted interventions that we are deploying. I would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to the many rangers that patrol our parks and look after our natural heritage for current and future generations.”
Along with the decrease in poaching, there has been an increase in convictions resulting from arrests in the last two years. However, the rate remains low, with only around one in ten rhino poaching incidents leading to a successful conviction.
Although numbers released by the South African Ministry of Environmental Affairs showed a 24 percent decrease in poaching in Kruger, other areas aren’t faring so well. Kwa-Zulu Natal saw a 37 percent increase in 2017, with other areas experiencing 100-percent-plus increases.
The reduction in numbers in the Limpopo area is credited to the formation of the Limpopo Rhino Security Group (LRSG) in 2016. The group works closely with South African police, private anti-poaching patrols, and other enforcement agencies to reduce poaching and push for convictions.
The situation for rhinos in South Africa remains critical, but it is refreshing to see progress – the number of convictions in the country nearly doubled from 2016 to 2017, showing there is still hope for these and other precious species.
Deberían embargar todas sus propiedades no solo la cárcel y que mantengan de por vida a los seres indefensos que dañaron
Fifteen years is peanuts. Those two deserve the death penalty; in the slowest fashion.
No mercy for poachers!
Well done rangers!
this jerk belongs in jail forever
these poachers got what they deserved . keep it up.
Good job!! Lock them up and throw the key away.
Yaaa for the killed pervert.
Its not enough. Death penalty is the only thing that will maybe save the rhinos.
I agree with you completely , all poachers need to be hung publicly
The DEATH sentence is the ONLY one that should be enacted for POACHER of Endangered animals.
Good! keep them in jail for the full sentence.
good work destroy the poachers and make everyone happy
great. 100 years would be better.
These rhinos must be protected from these poachers. Catch the poachers ! It is murder to kill an animal – all animals have the right to live and to live in safe – happiness.
That is not nearly enough time. 50 years, if not death is called for. Remember, these are not the only animals they murdered.
Yeah!
These two need to rot in jail for the rest of their miserable lives. Poachers should be shot on site!
A lengthy prison sentence is appreciated. Hopefully, other people who do not respect wildlife and are willing to poach will hear the message given by the incarceration of these two men.
This is good news, terrible and cruel what they do.
APPLAUSE APPLAUSE!! The animals are deserving of this justice. Humans are the most dangerous predators on earth.
Thank you on behalf of the animals.
That’s a good start and I’m happy they were caught and sentenced. Hopefully these creeps will do every day of their 15 year, 6 months prison sentence and not get let out after doing half of that. I wish they would have gotten the death penalty because that will ensure they’d never be able to poach again.
Treat them like what they are – murderers.
I think these poachers deserve the death penalty.
Wondeful, great, if we could get such news everyday, it will be fantastic.
God bless the park rangers. 15 years is not enough time – life without the possibility of parole is what these two monsters deserved. How many innocent animals have they slaughtered before they were caught? Cowards harm animals. God bless everyone who protects and loves animals.
SHOULD HAVE SHOT THEM DEAD ON THE SPOT!!!!. ALSO DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE ORPHANS LEFT WITHOUT THEIR MOTHERS, BECAUSE OF THOSE DIRTY BASTARDS!!!!!.
Is that all?
THEY NEED LONGER BUT ITS GOOD PROVIDED THEY DO THE FULL 15 YEARS
Next time just shoot them all
Thank you for giving him a long sentence. Don’t these people realize that the rhino will never come back once they kill them all??
Outstanding news and progress
Yey!!!! Hope you die in jail!!!
Send the poachers back to China.
Excellent news — THERE IS A GOD — make sure they’re NOT released early (they’d probably return to their evil hunting of animals).
THANK YOU for enforcing these important laws. KEEP IT UP! — THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
I hope that they will go to jail the rest of their lives
All Hunters deserve the death chair
Hang them up, they can never hurt 1 animal again. Is also a good example for the other poachers!
Thanks to the rangers, you do a magnificent job. Also to all the other people that help to keep these predators away from the UNARMED big game animals.
Too bad only one out of the three poachers were shot and killed.
At least they were captured and finally sentenced. Though, not enough if you ask me.
I’m sure these two POS are hoping, with a little luck, they’ll be back out to continue their murder.
I’m hoping, with a little MORE luck, they won’t.
Good! Glad to hear their enforcing these crimes! That’s the only way these people will learn, but have to have strong enforcement in all the areas in Africa, not just certain areas! Good work! Our wildlife need to live!!!!
ITS ABOUT TIME!! 300 rhinos poached in a year is 300 too many. Although this is great news, other areas are vulnerable, and rhinos are disappearing at alarming rates. It’s a good start though. Declare war on poachers!! Go find them, and make it known that there are very harsh consequences for killing rhinos.
Thank you to the people who rendered this verdict. Maybe the idiots who still think it’s ok, will wake up. Also, perhaps for yard detail, those 2 idiots be made to clean rhino pens, with rhinos still in them!
Thank you finally justice prevails. Thank you this is truly a victory..
Yeah!!! Heray!! Yippee! So good to hear that these poachers were prosecuted!! And thank to all the rangers for protecting the rhinos!
Yes thank you it’s long overdue. Justice now.
YES!!!!
THANK YOU!!! JUSTICE IS SERVED. LET THESE MONSTERS ROT IN JAIL!!!!!!!!!!!
Music to my ears!! Keep arresting and sentencing these selfish monsters!