9-Sep-09 9:00 PM CST

Rhino Poachers Being Targeted

Poachers have killed 84 rhinos in South Africa since January and KwaZulu-Natal has the second highest number of incidents.

Environmental Affairs held a two-day meeting in the province to tackle the problem.

It's emerged that 19 rhinos have been killed at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Parks.

The Department's Albi Modise says the Environmental Affairs Minister's pledged government support to tackle the problem.

This will include the setting up of a Special Investigations Unit to deal with conservation crime.

"There is obviously a market somewhere for some of these particular horns that have been poached. It's an area that is very worrying to government. We’ve seen fit that we put in place systems and processes to ensure that we stop these marauding thugs in their tracks."

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