A 79-year-old suspected rhino poacher was shot dead at the Bubi Conservancy outside Beit Bridge during a shoot-out with game rangers, police have said.

Local police spokesperson C/Supt Lawrence Chinhengo said the incident occurred on Friday at around 17:00 at Taula Safari Ranch in the Bubi Conservancy, east of the border town.

“The man, who was armed with an AK47 rifle and in the company of a man who is still at large, had strayed onto the Bubi conservancy when they came into close contact with game rangers who were on an anti-poaching operation in the area, resulting in an exchange of fire,” he said.

The victim, identified as Motakela Mukosiku, was shot in the left collarbone and died instantly. The other suspected poacher took the rifle and managed to flee from the scene.

Chinhengo said the game rangers later tried to trace the escaped suspected poacher, but failed to locate him. They then reported the matter to the police and the body was taken to the Beit Bridge District Hospital mortuary.

Chinhengo said they had recovered a satchel, which contained 38 rounds of live ammunition, a torch, an axe, a kitchen knife, gloves, a pair of pliers, the dead man’s mobile phone, his national identify card and a bottle of gun oil.

Three spent cartridges were also found at the scene. Chinhengo said there were no casualties among the rangers. He said they had since launched a manhunt for the other suspect on the run.

“As police we continue to warn poachers against straying into protected safari areas as they risk being killed and we believe this incident will also send a serious warning to would-be poachers,” he said.

Of late, there has been an increase in the number of poaching activities in the country, with rhinos being mostly targeted. Last week, two armed poachers were shot dead and a third injured in a shoot-out with game rangers in the Mkanga Safari Area outside Beit Bridge.