Three suspected poachers from Beit Bridge were shot and seriously injured, while three others escaped unhurt during a shoot-out with game rangers at the Bubi Conservancy outside Beit Bridge, police have said.

The local police spokesperson, Chief Supt Lawrence Chinhengo, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday. “The suspects, who were travelling in a Toyota pick-up, drove to Bubi Conservancy, armed with two .303 rifles and they shot a rhino. They were, however, spotted by some alert game rangers who were on patrol," he said.

On realising that they had been cornered by the rangers, the poachers opened fired and there was an exchange of fire, resulting in three poachers' being shot. The other three sped off in their car and were later arrested in Gwanda.

One of the poachers is fighting for his life at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo, while two others are recuperating under police guard at Beit Bridge District Hospital.

Chinhengo said they had also recovered the two rifles, three axes and an assortment of knives, as well as the carcass of a rhino. “We suspect the six men were operating as a syndicate involving several others,” Chinhengo said. The six suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

The latest incident comes barely a month after three rhino poachers, also from Beit Bridge, were shot dead during a pre-dawn shoot-out with game rangers at Chipangayi Safari Area outside the border town. The alleged poachers, who were travelling in two cars, are said to have shot at the rangers after refusing to surrender, triggering a shoot-out. The rangers killed three men and arrested two others, while the third suspect escaped in a Toyota Corolla.

A .306 rifle fitted with a silencer, 18 rounds of ammunition, two knives and two bags were among the items recovered and one of their vehicles was also impounded.