Second Skukuza Rhino Poaching Conviction Lands Lucky Mabunda with Further Imprisonment

In an intensified crackdown on wildlife crimes, 47-year-old Mozambican national, Lucky Mabunda, has been met with an additional 10-year prison sentence for poaching a rhino in Skukuza National Park. This comes while already serving a 19-year sentence for committing the same crime.

Landed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the news was announced by NPA spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, at the Regional Court on Thursday. Nyuswa remarked on how Mabunda entered the Skukuza National Park between February and September 2019, during which time he was apprehended by field rangers. Alongside Mabunda, the rangers discovered the remains of two rhinos, providing further evidence of his criminal activities within the park.

Aside from the harrowing evidence of poaching, Mabunda was reportedly in possession of a hunting-oriented arsenal of tools. This included a firearm, ammunition, and an axe, among other items. Putting forth a plea of guilty to the killing of one rhino, the story took a more damning turn as ballistic evidence linked Mabunda to a second rhino killed in February.

Elaborating on this, the NPA spokesperson said, "It was confirmed that the bullets found on the carcass were fired from the rifle found in the accused’s possession."

This sentencing serves as a stern reminder and warning to potential poachers about the serious consequences of engaging in wildlife crimes.