A suspected poacher has been killed and another injured after a shootout with game rangers in Kruger National Park in the early hours of Saturday, June 14.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), a group of rangers were on patrol in the Satara area, at approximately 12:45am, when they came across three men, who immediately aroused suspicion. One carried a firearm, and the others had backpacks.

The rangers instructed them to stop and demanded that the armed individual drop his weapon to the ground, but the men refused and opened fire.

However, this was not a battle they could win, and two of the suspects were seriously injured in the ensuing shootout, with one of them succumbing to his injuries after police and emergency services were called to the scene.

The third suspect managed to flee the scene and remains at large, the SAPS said. 

At the scene, police recovered one hunting rifle as well as five live rounds of ammunition, an axe, a knife and two cellphones.

Police have opened cases of attempted murder, trespassing and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

It is believed that the suspects are illegal immigrants from Mozambique.

The injured man was transported to hospital and is currently under police guard. He is expected to appear in court as soon as he is discharged from the hospital.

“Rangers and police will continue working tirelessly to ensure the park remains safe from poachers,” said Major General (DR) Zeph Mkhwanazi, acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga.

“The Kruger National Park is a vital part of our heritage, a source of learning for future generations, and an important contributor to our provincial economy through tourism. We will not allow anyone to destroy what we treasure,” the commissioner added.

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