Fleeing poacher shot

Herald Reporter
May 20, 2009

A SUSPECTED poacher is battling for life at Parirenyatwa Hospital after he was shot while trying to escape following an encounter with game scouts at Matusadona National Park in Kariba last week.

Further investigations led to the recovery of an elephant bull and a pangolin that had been shot.

Shadreck Mupfuure (35) of Gokwe, who was dressed in army camouflage, was among five other as yet unidentified suspects who were confronted by game scouts on May 9 and ignored an order to stop.

The game scouts were on patrol when they heard a gunshot and went to investigate. They came across the six men, one of whom was armed with a .303 rifle.

The game scouts fired in the direction of the suspected poachers and one of the bullets hit Mupfuure above the knee.

He sustained serious injuries and was immediately arrested and taken to Siakobvu Clinic before being transferred to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital and later to Parirenyatwa Hospital for further attention where he is under police guard.

The other suspects escaped and were still on the run. Mashonaland West Police spokesperson Inspector Denford Maingire confirmed the incident saying investigations to establish the whereabouts of the other five men were in progress.

"We can confirm that we have arrested a man suspected of poaching who is now under police guard at Parirenyatwa after he was shot while fighting back game scouts that were trying to apprehend him together with five other men who are still at large," he said.

He said there had been a marked increase in cases of poaching since the beginning of the hunting season.

Although no one likes poaching, should people be killed over it?

Yes, if the poaching is for other than subsistence, i.e., if it is for commercial purposes.

Poaching will not decrease until the cost of being a poacher increases; so shoot straight.

Attitudes are different in Africa. I didn't impose my value system on the locals while I was in Tanz. That would have been rather arrogant on my part. Beats the heck out of our justice system. You know the rules and suffer the consequences. And I'm a criminal defense attorney.

Dutch

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Yes, if the poaching is for other than subsistence, i.e., if it is for commercial purposes.

Poaching will not decrease until the cost of being a poacher increases; so shoot straight.

So you would have people starve so you can have a good time on vacation?

That is perhaps the most stupid ass reply/question I've ever seen on AR. Get your reading glasses and re-read my post. If you don't know the definition of subsistence, buy a dictionary.

I have culled sick and crippled animals suffering from poachers snares in at least three sub-Saharan African countries, have removed 50-100 snares and traps, arrested poachers and burned their camps. All this was done on my "vacation" time. If a poacher ever pointed a weapon at me I would not have hesitated to kill him on the spot.

You need a reality check.

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
That is perhaps the most stupid ass reply/question I've ever seen on AR.

It really is not necessary to treat a fellow hunter in that manner.

It's only called poaching because some other idiots think they own the animals.

I think god owns them.

Please don't feed the trolls.

Whackem,

You need to take in some more context from the above poster before you start defending him.

As for Mortican, only 8 posts, looks like one of the new non-essentials that are stirring shit around here. No surprise with this response.

The trolls are out tonight.

In force. Damn them, Damn 'em.

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
That is perhaps the most stupid ass reply/question I've ever seen on AR. Get your reading glasses and re-read my post. If you don't know the definition of subsistence, buy a dictionary.

I have culled sick and crippled animals suffering from poachers snares in at least three sub-Saharan African countries, have removed 50-100 snares and traps, arrested poachers and burned their camps. All this was done on my "vacation" time. If a poacher ever pointed a weapon at me I would not have hesitated to kill him on the spot.

You need a reality check.

Did I miss the part where I said don't shoot a Poacher who is pointing a rifle at you? Did I ever say you shouldn't defend yourself? That is quite a leap of logic

I'm willing to bet I have spent more time in Africa than you have, and a Hell of a lot more time in the bush.

I'm also not talking about a pampered Safari Hunter in the 4 star camp. I'm speaking of on the ground. In the refugee camps and in the villages. In places where only a few of the posters here would ever venture to go and then only for a visit, to take pictures and pretend they had empathy.

Whether you like it or not Africa is where Africans live. It is a place where you go on vacation, to pretend you are something special and live in the fantasy world of Teddy Roosevelt or Hemingway. No matter how much you try and help you still go home. You don't live there.

Of all of Africa's problems overpopulation is the worst. How can you deny a right to live to people who actually own the Country? Where do you get the feeling of self importance that allows you to feel that they do not have the right to eat or support their families?

Subsistence isn't only eating what you can kill. It can also be selling what you kill and taking the money for a better life for your family.

That is where short timers, like you, miss the point. The bush meat market and the tourist market are there because of the need for money. Do you think poor villagers don't aspire to something better when they see you driving through in a vehicle they know they can never own? When you give them your cast offs and Salvation Army gifts do you really think that they are grateful? Or does it just make them want to be able to have what you have.

Being poor and ambitious often leads to doing things the only way they know how.

And you, in your Bay Area mansion sit there on your high horse and dare criticize someone who you will never be capable of understanding?

Do you want to end poaching? Then stay the Hell away. Don't go and rub there noses in your success. Don't go and give their children handouts and free candy. Leave them alone.

The animals are not for your play time, and either are the people.

If you can't stay away than try and put yourself in the shoes of someone who lives there. Imagine it is you living in the grass Hovel, with your wife and children. Imagine you want to do better for them and then imagine what you would do to be able to do that.

Troll out.

Gator1 - You are a presumptuous ass and every one of your presumptions about me is incorrect. Don't be so convinced of your bush time nor assume I don't know Africa nor that I need lessons from the likes of you.

BTW, the article relates Africans shooting the poachers, who were also African. If you support poaching what are you doing on AR?

If you don't read sign language then maybe you'll understand this: PISS OFF!

I won't waste any more bandwidth on you.

quote:

Originally posted by Whackemandstackem:

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
That is perhaps the most stupid ass reply/question I've ever seen on AR.

It really is not necessary to treat a fellow hunter in that manner.

+1


I'll be having fish and chips for lunch today.

It's a bit of a mid-week tradition in my office.

All the best lads,

GH

quote:

Originally posted by Gator1:

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
That is perhaps the most stupid ass reply/question I've ever seen on AR. Get your reading glasses and re-read my post. If you don't know the definition of subsistence, buy a dictionary.

I have culled sick and crippled animals suffering from poachers snares in at least three sub-Saharan African countries, have removed 50-100 snares and traps, arrested poachers and burned their camps. All this was done on my "vacation" time. If a poacher ever pointed a weapon at me I would not have hesitated to kill him on the spot.

You need a reality check.

Where do you get the feeling of self importance that allows you to feel that they do not have the right to eat or support their families?

Subsistence isn't only eating what you can kill. It can also be selling what you kill and taking the money for a better life for your family.

That is where short timers, like you, miss the point.

Troll out.

You do realize Poaching IS illegal in most African countries.
Even with democratically elected governments.

The issue with these armed rhino and elephant poachers is that they know the penalty for their crimes and know what they are about when it comes to killing. If one comes across an armed poacher and hesitates....Well, that could be fatal hesitation. Nobody just shoots any poacher - the ones who are armed and poaching elephants and rhino know the rules. Those rules have been in effect a long time now.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Gator1:

The animals are not for your play time, and either are the people.

If you can't stay away than try and put yourself in the shoes of someone who lives there. Imagine it is you living in the grass Hovel, with your wife and children. Imagine you want to do better for them and then imagine what you would do to be able to do that.

Troll out.

You obviously couldn't care less about the animals and I can tell you I sleep well knowing that my passion helps fund the protection of some of the worlds last wild areas and the game that lives there.

I have seen many family's that live in what you call hovel's and they are often happier people than most western family's so I see no helpful reason to live in their shoes.

I'm also not talking about a pampered Safari Hunter in the 4 star camp. I'm speaking of on the ground. In the refugee camps and in the villages. In places where only a few of the posters here would ever venture to go and then only for a visit, to take pictures and pretend they had empathy.

Whether you like it or not Africa is where Africans live. It is a place where you go on vacation, to pretend you are something special and live in the fantasy world of Teddy Roosevelt or Hemingway. No matter how much you try and help you still go home. You don't live there.

Of all of Africa's problems overpopulation is the worst. How can you deny a right to live to people who actually own the Country? Where do you get the feeling of self importance[/quote]

quote:

Subsistence isn't only eating what you can kill. It can also be selling what you kill and taking the money for a better life for your family.

That is where short timers, like you, miss the point. The bush meat market and the tourist market are there because of the need for money. Do you think poor villagers don't aspire to something better when they see you driving through in a vehicle they know they can never own? When you give them your cast offs and Salvation Army gifts do you really think that they are grateful? Or does it just make them want to be able to have what you have.

Being poor and ambitious often leads to doing things the only way they know how.

And you, in your Bay Area mansion sit there on your high horse and dare criticize someone who you will never be capable of understanding?

Do you want to end poaching? Then stay the Hell away. Don't go and rub there noses in your success. Don't go and give their children handouts and free candy. Leave them alone.

The animals are not for your play time, and either are the people.

If you can't stay away than try and put yourself in the shoes of someone who lives there. Imagine it is you living in the grass Hovel, with your wife and children. Imagine you want to do better for them and then imagine what you would do to be able to do that.

I have worked for free as a dentist in Nicaragua an Honduras in places non of you would enter. at least not on vacation. Some of the times we had to be protected by the "maras" to develop our work. police would not enter in some places and come out alive. They based their life in assasination, selling drugs, Prostitution and selling weapons. they lived and prospered on human´s filth. I had the opportunity of helping them and in exchange they gave me some credit/respect. when you spoke with them they were human beings like you and me. They new if they were caught the most common end would be lead in the air. Killing or getting killed. They accepted the situation. One of them told me he had stopped his small brother of coming into the "Mara" because he knew off by hard sooner or latter he would get killed.
You cannot justify poaching no matter whatsoever because you are stealing Africans future. If they want something better for their familys I think this is not an enpty of resources Africa. If they are poaching and get killed they know the game. I don´t like it but those are the rules if you don´t like them don´t mess around

At least in Zim David has it exactly right (of course).

While hunting in Chewore North last year we were shot at by Zambian ele poachers.

The folks in Zim made the rules. They feel that ele poachers should be shot. I respect their judgements.

Brett

Snaring a small buck to feed the family is one thing. Armed gangs, killing for profit another. A 'kill on site' policy should be enforced in every country these vermin operate. It will not be, of course, as some is government sponsored, but these bastards understand and respect only one thing-POWER. Either they have it, or a armed game scout or PH do. THey are at your feet-or at your throat. They care neither for the resource, their country, the future, or human life. They are criminals dealing in death for personal profit. They leave nothing behind but bleached skulls and bones. Yes, kill them.

quote:

Originally posted by Magara:
Although no one likes poaching, should people be killed over it?

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Yes, if the poaching is for other than subsistence, i.e., if it is for commercial purposes.

Poaching will not decrease until the cost of being a poacher increases; so shoot straight.

That was the original discussion you Blowhard. It is Buffoons like you who postulate from afar and, in reality, haven't a clue that make things worse.

"so shoot straight." WTF

Glad to hear about your personal crusade to stop poaching. I'm also would be glad to hear of all the poachers you have arrested and the camps you have burned. Or were you just sitting in the passenger seat wishing the PH would move along so you can get back to Camp in time for your Sundowner.

quote:

originally posted by LionHunter:
I have culled sick and crippled animals suffering from poachers snares in at least three sub-Saharan African countries, have removed 50-100 snares and traps, arrested poachers and burned their camps. All this was done on my "vacation" time. If a poacher ever pointed a weapon at me I would not have hesitated to kill him on the spot.

If only you understood Africans as well as they, no doubt, understand you.

but then how would you know whether the poacher is feeding hes family or doing it on a mass scale as a businessman?? A poacher is a poacher and the way things are headed in the world today governments will reduce their budgets for anti poaching which automatically will mean an increase in poaching.

The amount of gamescouts that have been shot by them trying to apprehend someone is a hell of a lot. SO the rule is simple you are in an area where you shouldnt be killing animals and if you do poach you will face the consequences.