One suspected poacher was wounded while two others escaped during a confrontation with rangers in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday, 10 March .

According to South African National Parks (SANParks), rangers on patrol in the Kingfisherspruit section of the park encountered three suspected poachers.

During the encounter, one of the suspects was reportedly armed and a confrontation followed, resulting in one of the poachers being wounded while the other two fled the scene.

A doctor treated the injured suspect at the scene before he was transported to a local hospital for further medical care.

The South African Police Service (SAPS), together with the Local Criminal Record Centre, processed the crime scene where a heavy calibre rifle was recovered.

SANParks confirmed that a search operation is underway to locate the two suspects who escaped.