Di spatche s | Th e p ro b lem of p oac h ing
The sad fate of the rhino in Africa By James Parker
Editor’s note: James Parker volunteered with Southern African Wildlife College’s (SAWC) ranger division from June to September 2015. During his time at Kruger National Park, he worked with rangers-in-training.
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he two white rhinos are grazing in the grass, about 50 metres away. They are not really that hard to track, as they leave a distinctive hoof print or “spoor,” wherever they go. On the “approachability” scale, the rhino is rather passive compared to most other animals in South Africa's Kruger National Park. As well, and to the benefit of
the poachers, it is a full moon — what’s known as a “Poacher’s Moon” — this evening, making it easier to track the animals in the dark. The three Mozambican poachers are on tenterhooks though, as they know there are several special ranger-insertion teams in the park at any one time, and, like the poachers, these rangers are expert trackWINTER 2016 | JAN-FEB-MAR
James Parker
An anesthetized female rhino is geo-tagged and ear-notched, while biological measurements are taken, as part of efforts to fight rhinoceros poaching.