TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A South African rhino poacher, Mandla Chauke, has been sentenced 77 years in prison on July 22. Chauke was convicted for Chauke was convicted of murder, illegal hunting of rhinos, rhino horn theft, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as trespassing the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
“We hope that this will give a deterrent effect to other poachers,” parks spokesman Reynold Thakhuli said as quoted by The Independent.
Earlier this month, the South African court has jailed two Mozambicans to 16 years in prison for killing a rhino and taking its horn last year in Kruger Park. In late 2012, a Thai national also sentenced for 40 years in prison for selling rhino horns.
According to the government data, South Africa is home to 70 percent of world’s rhino. Around 1,044 rhinos were illegally hunted in the country last year despite the concern of the animal’s extinction.
Rhino horns are believed to be a status symbol and a cure according to some Chinese and Vietnamese view. However, there is no accurate evidence for the claimed benefit.
ANINGTIAS JATMIKA | AP