South Africa's army is to help game parks fight rhino¹ poachers, the defence ministry² has told the BBC.

南非国防部向BBC透露，军队将协同野生动物保护区打击犀牛偷猎行为。

lucrative³ and they fetch high prices in parts of Asia" src="http://www.enread.com/upimg/allimg/101118/4_101118061012_1.jpg" width="304" height="171" />
The trade in rhino horns is lucrative and they fetch high prices in parts of Asia

"This is becoming a priority for us. We cannot continue to have a situation where rhinos⁴ are killed willy-nilly（乱七八糟地） ," said a department spokesperson.

More than 200 rhinos have been killed in South Africa for their horns since the beginning of this year.

The horns are highly prized on the black market and fetch high prices when sold in Asia.

Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said she agreed to help fight the poachers after a request by a local animal protection body, Sanparks.

It has said "urgent" military intervention⁵ is needed.

"Rhino poaching is a crime we will have to stop immediately. It is cruel and brutal," the South African Press Association quotes the minister as saying.

Her spokesperson, Ndivhuwo wa ha Mabaya, told the BBC that details of the arrangement were still being finalised.

"We are not taking over from the police but we will be providing all the additional equipment they do not have," Mr wa ha Mabaya said.

Many arrests have been made by South African police in recent months and the cases are currently before the courts.

Poaching（非法狩猎） continues to thrive despite a tightening⁶ of anti-poaching laws in the country, authorities say.