[Image: Flickr]
Skukuza police in Nelspruit are digging into a fatal shooting after a suspected poacher met his match at the hands of Field Rangers inside the Kruger National Park (KNP) on Friday.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the drama unfolded when Section Rangers from SANPARKS’ Lower Sabie Section came across two suspected poachers while patrolling around 3PM.
“Tracing of the two individuals by the Rangers commenced until they were spotted again at about 18:15,” said Ndubane via The Citizen.
That’s when things went from tense to deadly. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the rangers, and the rangers weren’t about to just stand there and take it.
“In response, the Rangers returned fire and it was during this time where one alleged poacher got shot whilst another one got away,” Ndubane explained.
Emergency services and Skukuza police rushed to the scene, but it was game over for the wounded man as he didn’t make it.
“The injured man unfortunately succumbed to his injuries before he could receive assistance,” Ndubane stated.
A little digging around the scene revealed a hunting rifle, two rounds of ammo, and a knife – solid indicators that this guy wasn’t just out for a leisurely bushwalk.
Authorities are still trying to put a name to the deceased.
And this wasn’t some one-off incident. According to Ndubane, just a few days earlier, another suspected poacher met a similar fate in a separate shootout in the Malelane section of the park.
“That incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, also involved Rangers encountering two suspected poachers, which led to an exchange of gunfire,” Ndubane said.
One suspect pulled another vanishing act, while the other wasn’t so lucky, catching a bullet and later succumbing to his injuries.
Both incidents are still under investigation, Ndubane confirmed.
[Source: Citizen]
