Tracking Poachers

Information was received that a group of rhino poachers had fired shots just after sunset on a neighboring reserve. This meant that they would be trying to make their escape from the area and would be likely to cross back through the fence-line of the protected area in the early hours of the following morning.

At 04h00 the following morning a response team of counter-poaching rangers assembled and carried out a briefing as to how best intercept the suspected poaching group. These images showcase the follow-up that then took place over several hours and ended when the poaching group of three escaped into a waiting vehicle. Despite excellent training and tracking skills, rangers still face a difficult task in apprehending poaching groups.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

1 of 20: A quick 04h00 briefing session amongst the follow up teams takes place prior to departure.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

2 of 20: One of the two teams drives out of the control gates to head out to the boundary fence.

Chasing poachers_PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

3 of 20: Driving through the thick bush en-route to the boundary fence.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

4 of 20: Tracks of poachers where they had cut through the boundary fence of the protected area to make their escape. Patterns of the shoes are carefully noted for follow up.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

5 of 20: Quick messages are sent through to the other team so as to keep them informed that the poachers tracks will now be followed.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

6 of 20: With weapons at the ready, tracking of the spoor begins and takes place as fast as possible.

Chasing poachers_PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

7 of 20: The tracking team spreads out to provide support and cover and ensures that the tracks of the poachers are not obliterated.

Chasing poachers_PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

8 of 20: The tracks of the poachers crossed a hardened roadway to try and throw off the follow up team. One of the rangers finds the tracks again.

Chasing poachers_PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

9 of 20: Updated positions are communicated through to support teams.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

10 of 20: Where the tracks were lost, the teams spread out to improve the chances of relocating them.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

11 of 20: Situational awareness of the broader surroundings is imperative.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

12 of 20: Tracking of the group of three poachers extended over a few hours as they tried to shake us off their tracks.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

13 of 20: The poachers crossed through several ploughed lands in the community areas necessitating us having to climb through fences.

Chasing poachers_PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

14 of 20: The poachers tried to confuse us and hoped that we would loose their tracks along roadways where numerous other people had walked.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

15 of 20: The easily identifiable track of a poacher lies embedded in soft ground.

Chasing poachers_PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

16 of 20: Alertness levels increase as there is a realisation that the  poachers are now not far ahead.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwic_ AfricanConservationPhotographer

17 of 20: Rangers are highly alert knowing that the poachers are only a few minutes ahead.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

18 of 20: A plastic bread packet, discarded by the poachers, lies caught in a thorn bush where a vehicle had been waiting to pick up the poachers.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

19 of 20: Rangers debrief on site and at the point where the poachers escaped in their pick up vehicle.

Chasing poachers_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

20 of 20: Photographs of the poachers tracks are taken for uploading into the database and for future reference.