Poaching on decline: National Parks

Herald Reporter
February 20, 2010

Poaching has significantly decreased over the past 15 months because of heightened security, the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has said.

Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said 2009 saw a 32 percent decline in poaching as compared to 2008.

"Over 70 rhinos were killed in 2008 and 2009 saw a reduction in poaching by 32 percent. This showed increased security by the Parks Authority despite the shortage of resources the authority is currently facing," she said.

Ms Washaya-Moyo said while poaching was still a matter of concern, private media reports exaggerated the issue.

"The authority has managed to fight poaching to a greater extent which is clearly shown by a decrease in the number of rhinos and elephants killed and the number of poachers arrested," she said.

A report released by the authority showed that 61 serious cases were investigated in 2009 with 103 arrests being made.

Ms Washaya-Moyo said 13 poachers were killed during exchanges of gunfire with the police and rangers in the period under review.

"Thirteen rifles, ammunition and an assortment of wildlife products, which included ivory and horns, were recovered during the period," she said.

She said the authority last year held a seminar to conscientise lawmakers and other stakeholders on wildlife law enforcement and the effects of the crime on the national economy.

Ms Washaya-Moyo said the workshop’s results were beginning to bear fruit as evidenced by the prosecutions and deterrent sentences being handed to wildlife criminals.

"The authority has deployed officers in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police Border Control Unit at major airports and borders to control illegal exportation of ivory and other wild life products.

"If a minimum mandatory sentence of nine years is given to offenders convicted of killing a rhino or an elephant or in illegal possession of products from such animals, it will help reduce the crime," she said.

The authority, Ms Washaya-Moyo said, would continue working with the Zimbabwe National Army in ranger training.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Francis Nhema recently said Zimbabwe had good wildlife conservation practices that had seen the country preserving some of the world’s rarest species.

He castigated some countries circulating rumours that poaching was on the increase in Zimbabwe.