Poacher nabbed with cyanide in a national park

The pair was nabbed while awaiting transportation to Sakubva after smuggling the consignment through an illegal point near Marymount Teachers’ College

Raymond Jaravaza, Online Reporter

ZIMBABWE Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) rangers last week arrested a suspected poacher found with cyanide and other tools used in poaching activities.

Cyanide, a lethal chemical, is often used by poachers to poison water sources in national parks to kill elephants and rhinos for their horns.

“A 45-year-old suspected poacher was arrested in Chizarira National Park with approximately 100grams of cyanide and other assortment of tools used in poaching. He was held in police custody, awaiting appearance in court,” said

ZimParks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo.
In 2013, more than 80 elephants were killed for their ivory by poachers who used cyanide to poison a water hole in the Hwange National Park, the country’s largest game park.

Wildlife department officials said the chemical also killed smaller animals and predators which fed on them.
Nine poachers were arrested after rangers tracked them to a cache of ivory hidden in the park.

There has been a rise in the killing of elephants and rhinos in parts of Africa in recent years, mostly to feed demand for horns and tusks in Asia.