GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A combined law enforcement and environmental effort has led to two major discoveries of endangered and protected flora and animal products in the Southern Cape over the past weeks.

In KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay, a total of 2 641 plants, including 516 from 16 endangered species, were discovered during a police-led raid on a shipping container earlier this month. 

The operation was the result of a joint intelligence-driven effort involving various police units and environmental bodies.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies confirmed the incident, and said 149kg of additional plant material was seized alongside animal skins, including those of a monitor lizard (leguaan), caracal and python.

According to Leon Rossouw, founder of Wildlife Crime Information Network (WCIN), which participated in the raid, the container was located in Centurion Street. One suspect was arrested at the scene and later released.

He is due to appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on Monday 29 September on charges of possession of protected and endangered species.

A total of 120 different plant species were identified, and the raid involved teams from WCIN, the police Stock Theft and Endangered Species (Stes) Units from Worcester, Oudtshoorn and Beaufort West, CapeNature, SANParks, Mossel Bay Law Enforcement and the Garden Route Botanical Garden in George.

Theresa Scholtz, project co-ordinator at WCIN, said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts by them and their partners to combat the illegal harvesting of plants for traditional medicine purposes across South Africa. 

"South Africa is home to one of the world's richest floral kingdoms, with over 20 000 plant species. Many of these are used in traditional medicine," said Scholtz. 

"However, this biodiversity is under increasing threat from illegal and unsustainable harvesting, driven by high demand, poverty and a lack of regulation."

Rossouw added that effective protection of these plants requires a multifaceted approach that balances conservation with socio-economic realities.

Couple arrested for succulent poaching in Oudtshoorn

In a separate incident, a man and woman from Oudtshoorn were arrested and are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday 28 August, after allegedly harvesting and selling endangered succulents illegally.

According to Rossouw, the arrests resulted from a joint operation by WCIN and the Stes units from Worcester and Oudtshoorn. 

Authorities received a tip-off that the pair had illegally been harvesting endangered succulents around Oudtshoorn and selling them via Facebook Marketplace.

A total of 441 endangered succulents were confiscated from their home in Oudtshoorn North. This included 360 clusters of Conophytum truncatum and 77 specimens of Haworthia truncata and Haworthiopsis attenuata, with an estimated total value of R189 480.

The plants were handed over to CapeNature, which is assisting with species identification.

Some of the plant materials and other items that were inside the container in Mossel Bay.Some of the Conophytum truncatum that were confiscated in Oudtshoorn.‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’