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Chronicle Reporter
CASES of illegal elephant poaching declined in Matabeleland South by 20 percent in the first half of 2013. Police only recorded two cases compared to the 10 cases reported in 2012 and applauded members of the public for assisting them in curbing the illegal activity. In interview yesterday, Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele said police would continue working hard to reduce poaching.
“We recorded a 20 percent decline in the number of elephant poaching cases during the first half of the year.
“This decline is due to the support that we have been receiving from game rangers, in conjunction with police activities at road blocks, patrol among other operations,” said Insp Ndebele.
He said police had been conducting anti-poaching operations and awareness programmes.
“So far we have recorded two cases of elephant poaching in the province since January.
“Our main problem area is Debshan Park in Shangani and we are hopeful that we will manage to catch all the culprits,” he said.
He said that every year they sought to reduce poaching of elephants and urged local communities to join them in fighting illegal poaching so that they were able to bring crime to manageable levels.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo