October 25, 2014

SOUTH AFRICA: Horn Of The Dilemma: DOJ Says South African Rhino Poachers Misled American Hunters.



The Washington Times
written by Phillip Swarts
Thursday October 23, 2014

Two South African men were charged Thursday on accusations that they sold illegal rhino hunting trips to American citizens, the Justice Department said.

Dawie Groenewald, 46, and his brother, Janneman Groenewald, 44, ran Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris, and traveled around the U.S. recruiting hunters to come visit South Africa between 2005 and 2010, according to Justice Department records.

While in the U.S., the two men would lie to the American hunters, saying that a rhino legally needed to be put down, the charges state. The defendants would charge the American for the hunt, then later sell the rhino’s horn and other parts.

No Americans are facing charges, Justice officials said, because the South African brothers “tricked, lied and defrauded” the hunters they took overseas.

“We are literally fighting for the survival of a species today,” said Sam Hirsch, acting assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This case should send a warning shot to outfitters and hunters that the sale of illegal hunts in the U.S. will be vigorously prosecuted regardless of where the hunt takes place.”

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