Anti-Poaching Operation Ladysmith

**Gidsie** · 12-09-2010, 19:20

http://www.sacan.co.za/?p=1281

Ladysmith – Farmers and Police launched a major anti-poaching operation on Sunday, 5th September 2010, after poachers descended on a farm in the Colenso area. Colenso Police responded to a complaint by a farmer, initially dispatching a van to investigate.
This was followed almost immediately by calls for help as they reported that hunters had started streaming onto the farm and the count of vehicles illegally entering the farm was soon past 50 bakkies, all carrying hunting dogs. Farmers from as far afield as Ladysmith, Bergville, Weenen and Winterton, all linked to the SACAN network, rushed to the Grobelaar farm close to Colenso. This was after reports began filtering in over the SACAN Network that it was a hunting dog syndicate that had targeted the farm.
While co-ordination on the ground was difficult, farmers and police soon clashed with the hunters in the dense thick bush of the farm. The sounds of gunshots could be heard from Colenso several kilometres away as the joint police and farmer force drove the hunters back.
“They scattered as soon as we arrived,” explained one farmer. Farmers then set-about shooting the dogs left behind by the fleeing hunters. “It is not a pleasant task shooting dogs but all these dogs know is how to kill. Unlike normal predators the dogs do not even eat what they kill so they can do untold damage unless stopped”, explained SACAN’s Mark Pitout.
At least seven hunting dogs valued at close to R70 000 were shot and killed. A bakkie belonging to one of the hunters was also impounded. Five suspected hunters (poachers) were arrested and a Blesbok which had its throat ripped out by the hunting dogs was also recovered.
“This was a massive show of force by local farmers,” explained Mark Pitout. “Hunters in past incidents have got away with it because they invade the farm in such large numbers effectively intimidating both farmers and police” added Mark Pitout. “In this case farmers and police could easily match the hunters in numbers. We even had a private helicopter tracking them from overhead.” The size of the farmer’s response clearly caught the hunting syndicate by surprise as bakkie’s filled with terrified hunters could be seen speeding away from the farm shortly after the farm community response team arrived. It is believed the number of people involved in the hunt may have been as high as 100.
“Colenso Police and the Ladysmith Dog Unit deserve credit for much of the success,” said a delighted Mark Pitout. “Obviously we at SACAN are delighted with the sense of urgency shown by local farmers to lend a hand. The large number of farmers who responded has ensured poachers in the area will think twice about targeting local farms again.”

Author: hillcrest@sacan.co.za @ SA Community Action Network

**abhm** · 12-09-2010, 19:49

awesome awesome stuff! go for it!

**Bushboy** · 13-09-2010, 09:20

Ok hope this works, this is now the 3rd time trying to reply to this thread, keep getting error

What I was trying to post was: 50 bakkies invading

= the need for serious capacity, oh and good buddies who also have capacity.

PS they are not hunters, they are thieving scum robbers, baas ted poachers.

**G-force** · 13-09-2010, 09:31

Man i get goose bumps reading good stories like this.I wish I was there helping the farmers and cops out!Awesome!

**Sean Murphy** · 13-09-2010, 09:32

I have heard of this scenario. The key here is to remember that these guys are not the traditional poacher who are in it for the meat. These groups are actually syndicates who are actually gamblers. The main money here is from betting on the outcomes of the hunting with the dogs. That is why the dogs are worth so much. Killing the dogs is what hurts them the most.

Sean.

**camouflage762** · 13-09-2010, 09:36

Awsome story of the community defending itself.

Well done to SAPS for their involvement.

**Bushboy** · 13-09-2010, 09:39

Its also an effective way of destroying a farmer's livelihood.

Tactically, I have a question, but without knowing a single thing about the farm in question, why did they not block the exits and capture all of them, well the vehicle at least.? Maybe there were just too many, but the loss of thier bakkies would most likely have been a more serious blow to these poachers than thier precious pooches.

**Gidsie** · 13-09-2010, 15:56

Originally Posted by Bushboy

Its also an effective way of destroying a farmer's livelihood.

Tactically, I have a question, but without knowing a single thing about the farm in question, why did they not block the exits and capture all of them, well the vehicle at least.? Maybe there were just too many, but the loss of thier bakkies would most likely have been a more serious blow to these poachers than thier precious pooches.

Why dont you mail the author ? - email is supplied and give us some more detail?

**Bushboy** · 15-09-2010, 18:54

Ok as suggested by gidsie, I emailed them and they responded by phone. Firstly, here is my e-mail:

The above article refers. Firstly Id like to congratulate all involved in the above operation, well done guys! I saw your article on www.gunsite .co.za and decided to follow up with you for some more detail if possible and if its Ok with you. Firstly, although I know the area superficially, I dont know the farm at all, so naturally the details here may answer all my questions. The purpose of my questions is to help others (im Also involved in the wildlife industry) who may find themselves in a similar situation, and thus improve our effectiveness against the scourge of poachers and rural crime in general.
1) Was an attempt made to trap the poachers by blocking exits, setting up road blocks /stopper groups. Did the number of exits / Exfil routes or terrain make this impossible or was there another consideration?
2)Was there a co-ordinated approach? If so who organised it (name not important, but rather who he/she was, farm owner/ ranking police official/ local farm watch leader etc)
3) how were the various parties armed? Poachers? Police? Farmers?
4) from the article it appears contact was made(shoot out), can you describe the incedent? IE, who initiated? Who was the aggressor? Was there any specific thing that turned the event in your favour?

Once again, Im glad you guys won out. Looking forward to any response.

Keep safe.

The CEO of SACAN alled me and we had a discussion and he answered some of the questions. I was driving during the call and couldnt remember all I had asked.

This was the just of his response: some 650 people including SAPS were alerted from the whole area, and about 60 members were able to respond. These people included SAPS and local farmers and some people from nearby towns including a helicopter (im not sure who's but apparently SACAN's chopper). A SAPS brigadier took command. The responders split into groups of about 8 and moved out to try interdict the large gang of between 40 and 50 bakkies carrying an average of 2 people and numerous dogs each. The major problem they all had was no coherent comms system. The responders came from all over and most didnt have radios, and those that did couldnt communicate with others whose frequencies differed. There was also only one ground to air radio, which reduced the effectiveness of the chopper. Th farm had only one exit but due to the lack of communication, the opportunity to block and capture them all was missed. One group which included some saps members was fired upon by a group of poachers and SAPS and the farmers returned fire with whatever they had. This had 2 effects. Firstly the poachers decided to exfil asap and all the responders stopped in their tracks. This was done to avoid a blue on blue contact due to the lack of comms. No one was sure where the shooting was coming from or what direction the fight was heading and didnt want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The bulk of the poachers escaped, but many responders were able to take pictures of the bakkies and were able to get certain details such as plates etc. This was first time they had to respond to anything of this magnitude and the sheer scale of the invasion really shocked them. The final outcome was that no-one got hurt and the damage to the farmers property etc was not too bad.

I must say I had a very interesting chat with this fellow and suggested he come and take a look at our forum here and that maybe there could be some synergies between what we as citizens and firearm owners could achieve and at the very least we could learn from each other, een if its just from mistakes. Having read through their website (www.sacan.co.za) they are a commercial venture but with many aspects that are community services. Its an interesting model.