News / National
Zambian poacher shot dead in Zimbabwe
27 Jan 2012 at 22:49hrs | Views
A suspected Zambian poacher was shot dead by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers in Sinamatela National Park on Tuesday as the authority intensifies war against poaching.
The shooting of the poacher comes at a time when the authority lost 23 rhinos last year to poachers - a decrease in rhino deaths after 52 were lost in 2010.
ZPWMA public relations manager Ms Carol Washaya-Moyo said the poacher was part of a group of three who were sighted by rangers on an anti-poaching patrol in the Tshakabika area of Sinamatela National Park on 24 January.
"In an effort to effect an arrest, the three poachers resisted and fired shots at the rangers. It is in this process that rangers returned fire and the gunner was effectively shot and killed," she said.
"The body is currently at Hwange Colliery Mortuary Hospital."
She said an AK47 assault rifle with no serial number, 34 live AK47 rounds, a Zambian Sunday Post newspaper, one axe, 15 kilogrammes of mealie-meal with a Zambian label, four kilogrammes rice, a torch, mosquito
net, packets of matemba, two kilogrammes of sugar, Nokia 1208 with Zambian line, a knife, a rain coat, a small elephant tusk and cooking pots were recovered.
"The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the police have since intensified investigations in an effort to track down the poachers who are on the loose.
"The authority has come up with a number of strategies to ensure protection of flagship species such as setting up of the anti-poaching unit, which is the backbone of wildlife conservation with special attention to the endangered species such as black and white rhino. Available resources are also deliberately channelled towards anti-poaching activities," said Ms Washaya-Moyo.
She said over the years a number of activities were initiated in a bid to protect the rhinoceros, which she said was poached for its horns which scientifically have been proven not to have any medicinal properties.
"It therefore remains a myth. The authority deliberately created the intensive protection zones meant for the protection of rhinos. The authority continuously trains its officers and works in collaboration with the police and army.
"There is also cross-border collaboration with our neighbours on issues to do with wildlife," said Ms Washaya-Moyo.
The shooting of the poacher comes at a time when the authority lost 23 rhinos last year to poachers - a decrease in rhino deaths after 52 were lost in 2010.
ZPWMA public relations manager Ms Carol Washaya-Moyo said the poacher was part of a group of three who were sighted by rangers on an anti-poaching patrol in the Tshakabika area of Sinamatela National Park on 24 January.
"In an effort to effect an arrest, the three poachers resisted and fired shots at the rangers. It is in this process that rangers returned fire and the gunner was effectively shot and killed," she said.
"The body is currently at Hwange Colliery Mortuary Hospital."
She said an AK47 assault rifle with no serial number, 34 live AK47 rounds, a Zambian Sunday Post newspaper, one axe, 15 kilogrammes of mealie-meal with a Zambian label, four kilogrammes rice, a torch, mosquito
"The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the police have since intensified investigations in an effort to track down the poachers who are on the loose.
"The authority has come up with a number of strategies to ensure protection of flagship species such as setting up of the anti-poaching unit, which is the backbone of wildlife conservation with special attention to the endangered species such as black and white rhino. Available resources are also deliberately channelled towards anti-poaching activities," said Ms Washaya-Moyo.
She said over the years a number of activities were initiated in a bid to protect the rhinoceros, which she said was poached for its horns which scientifically have been proven not to have any medicinal properties.
"It therefore remains a myth. The authority deliberately created the intensive protection zones meant for the protection of rhinos. The authority continuously trains its officers and works in collaboration with the police and army.
"There is also cross-border collaboration with our neighbours on issues to do with wildlife," said Ms Washaya-Moyo.
Source - TC
