Pretoria: Four suspected rhino poachers were arrested this week during an anti-rhino poaching operation at the Kruger National Park.

According to a statement released by the South African National Parks (SANParks), three of the arrested suspects were fatally wounded.

On Monday, at Shangoni Section in the Kruger National Park, SANParks Rangers and investigators came into contact with a group of suspected poachers.

One of the suspected poachers was fatally wounded. A firearm and a set of rhino horns were recovered.

On the same day in the Lower Sabie, three suspected poachers were arrested and a firearm and an axe were recovered.

In a follow-up anti-poaching operation at Crocodile Bridge on Tuesday, Rangers came into contact with another group of suspected poachers, where one suspected poacher was wounded and two were fatally wounded, again another firearm and two axes were recovered.

The number of rhino poached as of Monday, 27 August, stood at 222 and the number of arrests was at 49 for the Kruger National Park.