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BDF kills two rhino poachers
27 August 2019Two suspected poachers were shot and killed by Botswana Defence Force (BDF) on Sunday while tracking a rhino they had shot in Moremi Game Reserve, confirming the country’s tough anti-poaching policy.
Acting Maun Police chief, Superintendent Samuel Kgomo said two suspected rhino poachers tracking a wounded rhino where ambushed by BDF Anti-Poaching Unit near Mombo Camp in the wildlife -rich Okavango Delta and were shot and killed on the spot.
Botswana has an unwritten shoot to kill policy towards suspected ivory poachers.
He said BDF anti-poaching unit which was on patrol were alerted to gun shots and went to investigate. On the way they found a wounded female rhino and took cover hoping the poachers to arrive.
“As expected, poachers came chasing after the rhino. The BDF officers did not waste time as they killed the two poachers on the spot,” Kgomo revealed.
The female rhino was later found dead metres from the scene. It leaves a young calf.
He said the army discovered a special assault riffle in possession of the poachers and 10 bullets. The said the nationalities of the two is still unknown but suspected they may be from neighboring Namibia. Police investigations are ongoing as bodies of the two deceased are at Letsholathebe Hospital in Maun.
BDF kills two rhino poachers
Two suspected poachers were shot and killed by Botswana Defence Force (BDF) on Sunday while tracking a rhino they had shot in Moremi Game Reserve, confirming the country’s tough anti-poaching policy.
Acting Maun Police chief, Superintendent Samuel Kgomo said two suspected rhino poachers tracking a wounded rhino where ambushed by BDF Anti-Poaching Unit near Mombo Camp in the wildlife -rich Okavango Delta and were shot and killed on the spot.
Botswana has an unwritten shoot to kill policy towards suspected ivory poachers.
He said BDF anti-poaching unit which was on patrol were alerted to gun shots and went to investigate. On the way they found a wounded female rhino and took cover hoping the poachers to arrive.
“As expected, poachers came chasing after the rhino. The BDF officers did not waste time as they killed the two poachers on the spot,” Kgomo revealed.
The female rhino was later found dead metres from the scene. It leaves a young calf.
He said the army discovered a special assault riffle in possession of the poachers and 10 bullets. The said the nationalities of the two is still unknown but suspected they may be from neighboring Namibia. Police investigations are ongoing as bodies of the two deceased are at Letsholathebe Hospital in Maun.
In 2013 environment minister, Tshekedi Khama said in interview with British journalist that would-be poachers needed to know that they might not go home alive and would be shot even if they surrender. This is a developing story.
In 2013 environment minister, Tshekedi Khama said in interview with British journalist that would-be poachers needed to know that they might not go home alive and would be shot even if they surrender. This is a developing story.
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