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UK trade in ivory from hippos, narwhals, orcas and sperm whales has been banned as part of conservation efforts, the Government has said. The Ivory Act, introduced to protect elephants, has been extended to ban the importing, exporting and dealing in items containing ivory from the four species, the Environment Department (Defra) said. People breaking the rules by trading in ivory – found in teeth and tusks - from the species could face an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail.

In Vhembe District, Limpopo, police have detained five men, ages 28 to 42, in connection with illegal hunting activities and obstruction of justice. According to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the provincial police spokesperson, the arrests took place on Sunday in the villages of Bennde-Mutale and Nkotswi. According to IOL, the suspects are accused of hunting buffalo unlawfully within the Kruger National Park. During the incident, one member of the group was fatally injured by a buffalo.

Building on last year's donation of four Bat Hawk surveillance aircraft to South African National Parks (SANParks) to aid surveillance, conservation and anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park, Anglo American Platinum this morning donated another Bat Hawk that will be going to SANParks' Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. In addition, a Bat Hawk aircraft will be donated to Mapungubwe National Park, which is located on the border of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

The rhino poaching trial of six Zimbabweans, four of whom are allegedly in South Africa illegally, will proceed in the high court sitting in Makhanda on Thursday. Francis Chitiyo, 31, Trymore Chauke, 26, Micheck Chauke, 23, Simba Masinge, 23, Nhamo Muyambo, 28 and Abraham Moyane, 23, - all of whom live in East London - face some 38 charges related to the poaching of about eight rhino in the Eastern Cape between 2017 and 2018. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.