Somalia: Helicopters Hunt Wildlife, Residents Say
27 August 2009

Gara'ad — Residents and elders in the Somali Coastal village of Gara'ad have voiced concern over helicopters hunting various types of wildlife, including ostrich and gazelles, Radio Garowe has reported.

According to the elders who have made contact with the Puntland-based radio, helicopters have been used to dart the wildlife before taking them onboard.

"For the last five days, the hunters have been anesthetizing the animals before taking them onboard to ships based on the high seas" said Tahug Muse Ahmed, one of the elders who made contact with the Radio.

He added that local elders have agreed to conserve the wildlife nine years ago and imposed fines on anybody held on hunting after the wildlife in the area was close to extinction.

However, it is not clear which country owns the helicopters but international naval powers, including NATO have deployed warships to the waters off Somalia over past years to escort aid-carrying ships bound to Somalia and to protect the maritime trade routes from Somali pirates.

Kathi,
do you have a source / author for this article?
Thanks