Poachers just got the last ones.
The 15 threatened animals were shot dead for their horns last month in the
Mozambican part of Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which also covers South
Africa and Zimbabwe.
They were thought to be the last of an estimated 300 that roamed through the
special conservation area when it was established as "the world's
greatest animal kingdom" in a treaty signed by the three countries'
then presidents in 2002...
Wildlife authorities believe the poachers were able to track the rhinoceroses
with the help of game rangers working in the Limpopo National Park, as the
Mozambican
side of the reserve is known.
A total of 30 rangers are due in court in the coming weeks, charged with
collusion in the creatures' deaths, according to the park's administrators.
Conservationists say the poorly-paid rangers were vulnerable to corruption by
organised poaching gangs, who target rhinoceroses for their horns which are
prized in Asia for their reputed aphrodisiac and cancer-curing properties.
The trade in rhino horn has seen the numbers of rhino killed spiral in recent
years. Over the border in Kruger, the South African part of the
transfrontier park, 180 have been killed so far this year, out of a national
total of 249. Last year, 668 rhino were poached in South Africa, a 50 per
cent increase over the previous year.
Who didn't see this coming?? A quick search finds salaries for game rangers at
$60/month.
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