Re: Rhino Poaching
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:24 pm
Ballistic tanks place rogue rangers in the sights
Ballistic tanks place rogue rangers in the sight
Are serving Ezemvelo field rangers directly involved in rhino poaching? That question may soon be answered as investigators wrap up ballistic testing of weapons issued to rangers at all Ezemvelo KZN (EKZN) Wildlife game parks, as well as at a number of private game reserves. Over the past month, all rangers’ weapons have been fired and will be checked against bullets found at KZN poaching scenes. The Richards Bay Organised Crime Unit (OCU) has undertaken the testing, using two custom-built ballistic tanks. The water-filled tanks allow bullets fired into them to be recoverd undamaged. This enables accurate testing of bullet scoring against the rifle barrel markings.
The tanks were supplied earlier this year by the Zululand Branch of the KZN Hunting Conservation, who were approached by the Zululand Observer to assist the OCU. Previously, the OCU had to send firearms to Pretoria for testing with results taking several months. Now the OCU is able to do its own firearms testing using the portable tanks at the scene of crimes. Bullet heads from tests can now be sent to a laboratory for speedier verification. It is not known when the results of the Ezemvelo tests will be made public.
Staff issues But while the testing may help to flush out any rogue rangers, insiders say the shortage of essential staff at all levels is another significant safety issue still to be properly addressed. ‘This includes empty posts directly linked to anti-rhino poaching security, including 12 Senior field rangers at EKZN Wildlife parks,’ a source told the Zululand Observer. ‘This includes HluhluweiMfolozi, Ndumo and Mkuze.‘The announcement last week of the re-deploying of 12 untrained rangers from the Drakensberg to HiP, totally unqualified to work in this vastly different terrain, will not help much to curb rhino horn poaching. ‘And nothing is being said about the 40 to 50 posts that have remained unfilled for a number of years. ‘Until these staff issues have been settled, the problem will remain.’
Ballistic tanks place rogue rangers in the sight
Are serving Ezemvelo field rangers directly involved in rhino poaching? That question may soon be answered as investigators wrap up ballistic testing of weapons issued to rangers at all Ezemvelo KZN (EKZN) Wildlife game parks, as well as at a number of private game reserves. Over the past month, all rangers’ weapons have been fired and will be checked against bullets found at KZN poaching scenes. The Richards Bay Organised Crime Unit (OCU) has undertaken the testing, using two custom-built ballistic tanks. The water-filled tanks allow bullets fired into them to be recoverd undamaged. This enables accurate testing of bullet scoring against the rifle barrel markings.
The tanks were supplied earlier this year by the Zululand Branch of the KZN Hunting Conservation, who were approached by the Zululand Observer to assist the OCU. Previously, the OCU had to send firearms to Pretoria for testing with results taking several months. Now the OCU is able to do its own firearms testing using the portable tanks at the scene of crimes. Bullet heads from tests can now be sent to a laboratory for speedier verification. It is not known when the results of the Ezemvelo tests will be made public.
Staff issues But while the testing may help to flush out any rogue rangers, insiders say the shortage of essential staff at all levels is another significant safety issue still to be properly addressed. ‘This includes empty posts directly linked to anti-rhino poaching security, including 12 Senior field rangers at EKZN Wildlife parks,’ a source told the Zululand Observer. ‘This includes HluhluweiMfolozi, Ndumo and Mkuze.‘The announcement last week of the re-deploying of 12 untrained rangers from the Drakensberg to HiP, totally unqualified to work in this vastly different terrain, will not help much to curb rhino horn poaching. ‘And nothing is being said about the 40 to 50 posts that have remained unfilled for a number of years. ‘Until these staff issues have been settled, the problem will remain.’
No proof, probably only suspects??