RHINO POACHER SENTENCED TO 77 YEARS IN PRISON

RHINO POACHER SENTENCED TO 77 YEARS IN PRISON 

South African National Parks (SANParks) Tuesday 22 July, 2014 welcomed the heavy sentencing of a rhino poacher to a total of 77 years in prison for rhino poaching and related offences. He sentenced in the Nelspruit Magistrates Court today.

Mandla Chauke arrested in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in 2011 after he had killed three rhino calves.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of SANParks, Abe Sibiya commended the courts in particular Magistrate Msibi, for imposing such a lengthy jail term. 

“This is a huge triumph for the rhino and we warmly welcome this reward as it will provide the much needed boost to the anti poaching teams who endure harsh conditions for the protection of our parks”.

The KNP has lost 370 animals to poaching since January this year and 62 people arrested in connection with some of the cases.

“Our wish is to see a significant increase in such convictions and for the law enforcement authorities in affected countries to cooperate and work with us to end this scourge”, concluded Sibiya.