29-Nov-09 11:00 AM CST

‘King gave me powers to shoot to kill’

MBABANE – Ted Machobane Reilly, the Big Game Parks proprietor, is displaying to the world a Royal Warrant purportedly signed by His Majesty the King, giving him powers to shoot to kill poachers.

Over 25 000 people have viewed Machobane’s video displayed on the youtube.com website.

Big guns that could match the AK 47 were also displayed. Reilly said the Big Game Parks (BGP) had the ammunition to counter-attack armed poachers.

The nature conservationist says in the video that commentators and poachers were trying to make a case against him because everyone knew the consequences of poaching.

He said security in the game reserves under his supervision was undoubtedly the best in Africa. He said the Game Act of 1991 was passed as a result of sharp increases in poaching, adding that the rhino was the main target for illegal game hunters.

He said they sold the rhino horn for USD 15 000 (about E105 000).
Reilly showed the viewers poaching towers and narrated how rangers diffused or counterattacked shootings from the poachers.

Reilly said since the king issued the warrant, the rhinos multiplied because the number of poachers dwindled.

He said he was sometimes forced to import species that were missing as a result of poaching. He explained that the king was forced to issue the warrant because he reported to him that there were only two rhinos left in the 90s. Machobane said rangers were entitled to kill if poachers pulled the gun first and pointed out that in most cases the rangers acted in self defence.

The rangers then sped off with a vehicle that looked like the armoured vehicles for the army as a demonstration.

Rally’s video has attracted 114 comments from viewers, mainly from the United States of America who some supported the protection of wildlife by shooting to kill the poachers but others felt human life was more important and sacred than wildlife.

The chief of wildlife in Swaziland said he was aware the cracking down on poaching has made him a controversial figure in the country but pointed out that it was significant to protect the animal kingdom.

Machobane said he was able to bring 22 species of animals to the game reserves in Swaziland. In the same video, Mahlaba Mamba, the former MP and Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, criticised the Game Act on the grounds that it allegedly served the interests of Reilly.

Mamba, who was vocal in Parliament against the Game Act, said the BGP was Reilly’s business; hence he allegedly shot dead the poachers to save his own business.

For a better part of the past week, the Times SUNDAY made several attempts to get comments from the Big Game Parks.

Ted Reilly was reportedly out of the country. From Wednesday, attempts were made to get hold of Anne Reilly, the BGP’s mouthpiece, but to no avail.

She was telephoned more than five times each day. A questionnaire was emailed to Mlilwane Game Reserve’s address for her attention and there was no response obtained. The email address had been obtained from her secretary.

Jubela Reilly was reportedly at Mkhaya Game Reserve where there was no telephone, according to staffers at Mlilwane.

Bheki Dlamini, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the King’s Office said he would have to watch the video clip before responding. He asked to be given ample time to go over it.

News items on this page are from external sources and the International Rhino Foundation cannot be held responsible for the authenticity of their content, nor for the continuing presence of original links.

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Source: Times of Swaziland
http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=12502