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In the Eastern Cape, Justin Terblanche is known for his love of rhinos. The anti-poacher shares that he's known as the 'Rhino Whisperer' in the area and that his life's mission lies in protecting the gentle giants who once roamed the Earth with far more freedom and in far greater numbers. "Losing [rhinos] would leave an irreplaceable void in the natural world," says Justin. "If we don’t act now, future generations may never see a rhino roaming wild." Working at Lombardini Game Farm, Justin has seen first-hand the impact of poaching. The land was once home to 19 rhinos.

Former diplomat Pius Dunaiski says the decision by the Labour party in the United Kingdom (UK) to push for an anti-trophy hunting bill will affect Namibia's tourism industry. He says the new labour government will need to enhance ties with Namibia. Trophy hunting is a major foreign currency earner in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Members of anti-poaching units are sometimes involved in poaching or trafficking themselves, a latest report shows. This is according to a protection and law-enforcement report released by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism last week. Moreover, the report says 83 people have been arrested in connection with poaching and conspiring to poach rhinos and committing other wildlife crimes last year. It states that 39 people were arrested after pre-emptive investigations in 2023, while follow-up investigations related to rhino poaching have led to 44 arrests.

Four suspected rhino poachers died in two separate incidents in South Africa's internationally renowned Kruger National Park this month (June). The park on South Africa's eastern boundary is bordered by Mozambique and Zimbabwe and for the first time was last year overtaken by KwaZulu-Natal as the apparent venue of choice for armed poachers seeking rhino horn.

The suspects were arrested in Vryburg yesterday, after being found in possession of a pangolin. Just a few days after four men were arrested for trying to sell pangolins at a mall in Mahikeng, another quartet has been apprehended for being in possession of the endangered species in Vryburg, North West.