PRETORIA, South Africa - Officials say a game ranger at South Africa's flagship Kruger National Park has been arrested in connection with rhino poaching.
National parks Chief executive David Mabunda said the ranger was arrested Monday and had been linked to previous incidents of rhino poaching in the park.
South Africa has deployed soldiers in Kruger to help rangers confront an upsurge in poaching supported by international syndicates that killed 333 rhino last year.
This year 227 rhino and 15 alleged poachers have been killed, and 131 suspects have been arrested as the price of rhino horn surpasses gold.
Most rhino horn is destined for China and Vietnam for use in traditional medicine, though scientists say it has no medicinal value.
