Two Mozambicans have been sentenced to 30 years in prison for unlawful rhino hunting and firearm possession.
They were apprehended in September 2021 with a firearm and ammo at a game farm with the intention of slaughtering rhinos and extracting their horns for commercial purposes.
The game farm is part of the Great Lebombo Conservancy (GLC), which includes several Mozambique game ranches near the border with South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
The two poachers were apprehended by rangers before they could harm any animals.
This is the second time a hunter of a protected species has received a 30-year prison sentence.
Poachers have murdered almost 8,000 rhinos in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park region, which encompasses South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Zimbabwe’s Gonarezou National Park, Limpopo National Park, and the GLC.
The demand for rhino horns in Asian countries, mainly China and Vietnam, drives rhino poaching.
Rhino horn is utilised in traditional Chinese medicine, but it is becoming increasingly popular as a status symbol to demonstrate success and money.