That means that when poachers come by in expensive cars and offer cash in exchange for information, they find plenty of willing helpers.

Dr Audrey Delsink, wildlife director for the Humane Society International – Africa, said that such crime was “seen as low risk, high reward”.

That’s especially true given the “extensive legal proceedings” and “painfully slow” trials for the few people arrested. A new strategy drafted more than five years ago to improve anti-poaching measures has not yet been approved by the government.

But tip-offs can also come from poorly paid and demoralised rangers – there are currently 82 unfilled posts.

‘Until training happens, poaching will continue’

This reliance on inside information is “partly a result of our successes with enforcement actions,” Gareth Coleman, the managing executive of Kruger Park, told The Daily Maverick.

“Just climbing over a fence and going to find a rhino is much more difficult now. So the strategy is moving to [an insider] seeing a rhino, giving the coordinates, and then there’s money in a bank account.”

An army veteran in the area, who asked not to be identified, said that the poachers coming into Kruger were increasingly well armed.

“They are terrorists, and none of the game guards, nor the bosses of Kruger have had military training or experience,” he said. “Until this training happens, poaching will continue.”