Kenneth Ramunenyiwa
The Kruger National Park (KNP) has hailed the success of its collaborative efforts with local communities in combating poaching, resulting in the arrest of several poachers in recent months.
According to Ike Phaahla, spokesperson for the Kruger National Park, the park has seen a significant increase in intelligence from local communities, which has led to several successful operations against poachers.
Phaahla emphasised that poaching is not just a conservation issue but a criminal matter that affects local communities directly.
“Some poachers originate from local communities; they could be someone’s brother or father,” Phaahla said. “So, the more we cooperate with the communities, the better. Law enforcement has also come to the party, and we are grateful for their support.”
The park’s special ops regional ranger, Bruce Leslie, attributed the recent arrests to a combination of factors, including community tip-offs, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
“We are caught off guard because we are not expecting it,” Leslie said, referring to the poachers’ tactics. “But when you look at the international organized crime syndicate, they are clearly in it for monetary value.”
Leslie warned that the park faces significant poaching challenges, including limited resources and the need to balance conservation with tourism.
“Our biggest challenge in the park is resources,” Phaahla said. “We have a two-million-hectare estate that you need to protect, but you don’t have a lot of manpower to do that.”
Despite these challenges, the park remains committed to working with local communities and law enforcement to combat poaching and protect its precious wildlife.
“We need to join hands and work with each other to succeed,” Leslie said. “This is a concern globally, and it’s a global heritage. It’s in all our interests to protect these animals.”
The Kruger National Park’s collaborative approach to combating poaching has yielded significant results, with several poachers arrested and prosecuted in recent months.
According to Phaahla, the park continues to work with local communities and law enforcement agencies, it remains hopeful that the scourge of poaching can be brought under control, and the park’s precious wildlife can be protected for future generations.
Meanwhile, a former Park employee has been arrested in connection with a burglary at the South African Police Services (SAPS) storeroom for Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit in Skukuza.
The 52-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody on February 4, 2025, and is scheduled to appear at the Masoyi Magistrate Court soon.
According to SANParks, the burglary occurred January 23, 2025.
The suspect, who has since resigned from his position at SANParks, is expected to face charges related to the incident.
SANParks has acknowledged the arrest and commended the SAPS for their swift action in apprehending the suspect.
The arrest is a significant development in ongoing efforts to fight crime and protect the integrity of the Kruger National Park.
The SAPS is expected to release more information about the case after the suspect’s court appearance.
