EXPLAINED: 105 years in prison for killing Rhinos – what happened in South Africa
A combined 105-years sentencing was handed out to three poachers in South Africa for their killing of three rhinos in Marula, located in the southern section of the Kruger National Park.
The three poachers were arrested back in 2017, and received their sentencing by the Skukuza Regional Court prosecuting team on September 2. While one of the three poachers is of the age of 58, the other two of the accused are 29 and 32 years old.
During the trial, the magistrate “explained in detail the manner in which the three poachers killed three rhinos in execution-style and were caught red-handed whilst in the process of plundering the animals,” according to the South African National Park.
The Managing Executive of the Kruger National Park, Gareth Coleman commended the stiff sentencing and ensuring that justice was served. “These sentences should serve as a deterrent to those intending to come and kill our natural heritage and destroying the livelihoods of our people,” he said.
“We have in the past few months intensified our security efforts in the Park to good effect but successful convictions require that the prosecutorial and justice pillars in our society are operating effectively. These sentences will motivate the teams who work tirelessly day and night to protect our fauna and flora.”
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