The Mpumalanga Hawks arrested a 48-year-old man on 14 July in Nelspruit for allegedly selling protected wildlife without a permit, in violation of the Conservation Act.

According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, the suspect was caught red-handed selling four Barn Owls at a local shopping complex for R1,000 each. The arrest followed a tip-off from Mpumalanga Parks Board officials, who alerted the Hawks’ Organised Crime Investigation Unit.

A joint operation was launched, resulting in the seizure of a Nissan light delivery vehicle used to transport the owls. The rescued birds were handed over to the Parks Board for rehabilitation and will be released back into the wild.

Brigadier Danie Hall, Acting Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the province, praised the swift action by the officers involved.

“Wildlife is part of our heritage, and we have a duty to protect it,” he said. “When we take care of our wildlife, we safeguard our heritage for future generations.”

The suspect appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on 15 July 2025 to face charges related to the unlawful sale of protected species.