Poachers Kill 12 Elephants in Niassa National Reserve
2 August 2010


Maputo — Poachers still at large killed recently 12 elephants for their tusks in the Niassa National Reserve, in the northern Mozambican province of Niassa, reports the Monday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias".

A source from "Sociedade Gestora da Reserva do Niassa", the company in charge of the Niassa National Reserve management, said that this is the largest number of elephants killed in the last eight years in the region.

The last incident was reported in 2002, when 23 elephants were killed in one day, also by unidentified poachers.

The incident was reported about four kilometers from the village of Mbamba, near the banks of Lugenda River, where a team of rangers have already been deployed after members of the local community reported the incident.

Search teams, including officers from the Mozambican Police and the Border Guard have already identified the exact location where the animals were slaughtered and their tusks removed.

However, the poachers had plenty of time to escape, as the incident was only reported to the local authorities three days after the killing, although the investigation found some evidence of the involvement of some members of Mbamba community.

The investigation culminated with the recovery of firearms and ammunition used for poaching in the Reserve.

A source from "Noticias" said that there are still under way investigations seeking to identify the offenders, and there are some leads suggesting involvement of foreign nationals.

The source explained that judging by the precision the animals were killed; clean shots in the head, the operation was carried out by experienced poachers, using high powered firearms. It also appears that the elephants were slaughtered in broad daylight, when the animals resting under the trees.

The management of the Sociedade Gestora da Reserva do Niassa believes that the circumstances surrounding the incident point to a network of organized crime, which is taking advantage of poor patrolling.


Meanwhile, according to the Administrator of Quirimbas National Park (QNP) in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, Jose Dias Mahomed, elephants were recently removed from the list of protected animals under the International Convention on Endangered Species, within the QNP. This decision arises from the systematic involvement in cases of Human-Animal conflict.

However, said Mahomed, the authorities will proceed with plans to update current data on wild animal population, including elephants, in order to develop a more adequate management plan.

Currently, the QNP has a total of 55 rangers, a number which is still far from the 100 rangers required for efficient patrolling.

With an average 950 visitors per year, the QNP is now considering the implementation of a number of projects and initiatives to attract more tourists and increase the revenue to ensure its sustainability.

US is compliciant in this by not allowing MOZ Ele's to be imported!!!

12 only?