This archive report was first published on 13 December 2019.
Published on December 13, 2019, a statement from SANParks revealed that an anti-poaching patrol encountered three individuals carrying a loaded heavy gun and poaching equipment in South Africa's Kruger National Park.
During the confrontation, two of the suspects were fatally injured, while the third managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
South Africa has been at the epicenter of rhino poaching in recent years, with the country home to approximately 80% of the world's rhino population.
According to SANParks, last year alone, the country lost 769 rhinos to poachers, and over the past decade, more than 7,100 animals have been slaughtered.
The high demand for rhino horn in Asia, where it is valued as a traditional medicine, an aphrodisiac, or a status symbol, has fueled the poaching, with prices reaching up to $60,000 per kilogram.
