Poacher shot dead in gun-battle with rangers

Chronicle Reporter

A POACHER was shot dead in Victoria Falls on Sunday, while in another incident a game ranger was shot and injured during a serious gun-battle with poachers in the Chizarira National Park as cases of poaching resurface in the game-rich Matabeleland North province.

The poachers, mainly targeting elephants, have set up camps in the parks.
On Friday last week, another poacher was arrested in the Chizarira National Park in Binga, leading to the recovery of ammunition and game meat.
Provincial police spokesman Assistant Inspector Philip Mpofu said that in the first incident six game rangers, who were on patrol, followed some spoor which was heading in the direction of Kasethe Camp, resulting in them meeting five armed poachers.
“The poachers opened fire on the rangers as soon as they saw them, resulting in an exchange of fire.
“One poacher was shot dead in the process and his four colleagues escaped,†he said.
Asst Insp Mpofu said after the poachers had fled, a 13kg elephant tusk, three fully charged AK rifle magazines, each with 30 rounds and four magazine loaders with 10 rounds were recovered.
The poachers were also in possession of 20kg of dried game meat, 10kg of mealie-meal, an axe and two knives.
Asst Insp Mpofu said the dead poacher, who is yet to be identified, was taken to Victoria Falls Hospital mortuary.
He said the Police Support Unit branch had been deployed to track down the poachers.
Earlier on Sunday, a game ranger was shot on the buttocks in a gun-battle with poachers in the Chizarira National Park.
He is recovering at Binga District Hospital.
The game ranger was among a group of rangers on patrol when they met six armed poachers near Bimamba.
“There was an exchange of gunfire which resulted in one game ranger being injured. The six poachers, however, fled leading to the recovery of 331 AK rifle rounds, 500-millilitre gun oil, an AK magazine, two elephant tails, six elephant tusks, a scale, two blankets, a torch, plates, pots and four knives.â€
On Friday, a poacher was arrested at Mujima Spring, near Lusulu in the Chizarira National Park, but his five colleagues escaped.
He later led the rangers to the Simuchembu area of Gokwe where two spears, five kilogrammes of game meat and six 303 rifle bullets were recovered.
Asst Insp Mpofu said police suspected that the poachers were armed, hence the recovery of the bullets.
He said some officers have been deployed in the national parks to deal with the cases of poaching and to track the suspects.

Can we book with some former U S military commando to guide us
on a hunt for one or more of these accursed poachers?