adminPatrick Chitumba Victoria Falls Reporter
THREE suspected poachers were killed, two wounded and captured while three others escaped during armed exchanges with Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers at different national parks between December 23 last year and January 29, an official said.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the armed contacts between the rangers and the poachers showed the amount of pressure poachers had been putting in the northern, central and western regions of the country.
“In Zambezi camp in the Western region we discovered a torch, a woollen hat and a rafter on January 22 this year,” she said.
Washaya-Moyo said at Marongora Rifa area in Northern region and on January 19, three poachers escaped after an encounter with parks rangers.
“We recovered one 458 rifle (Serial Num B59484), four 458 loose rounds, one axe, 25kg mealie-meal, one work suit jacket, one pair of trousers, 5kg semi-dried elephant meat, a pair of patrol boots, black gun bag . . . ,” she said.
On January 28 and in Mana Pools near Rukomechi Research, Washaya-Moyo said two poachers were killed after a contact.
“Two 303 rifles, four 303 cartridges, ivory, two jackets, a knife, pot, raincoat an axe, cap, 250g Kapenta, 3kg elephant meat, a woollen hat, a satchel, a plate, an elephant tail, 4kg mealie- meal, a Samsung phone, 100g salt, a rifle pull through, Cotrimoxazole and ARV tablets were recovered,” she said.
In the Central region at Sengwa in Manyoni River Area on December 23 last year, rangers had an encounter with four poachers and one poacher was killed.
“The other two who were wounded, were captured. A fresh Buffalo carcass, a 303 rifle with serial number erased and a 375 rifle again with serial number erased were recovered,” Washaya-Moyo said.
She said the poachers have been putting pressure with the intention to illegally harvest wildlife.
“However the authority’s rangers have been equal to the task,” she said.
Washaya-Moyo said the Authority continues to strongly warn poachers that illegal entry into any Parks Estate with the intention of poaching is suicidal.
“The authority will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to ensure that there is consistency when it comes to punishing accused persons brought before the courts for poaching.
“The authority would like to commend the good job being executed by our rangers who are performing their duties under very difficult conditions. They still remain willing and committed to protecting the country’s wildlife resource,” she said.
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