Poachers turn farm into butchery - by Albertina Nakale

March 3, 2010

ARANDIS – To his horror, Trekkopje farm owner Jafta So-oabeb last Saturday discovered nine carcasses of springbok and three kudus, all poached in one day on his farm. The value of the animals is estimated at N$12 000.

Out of the nine Springbok, five were females and four were bulls, while the kudus were all females. The slaughtered animals’ internal organs were also found at the scene.

On Saturday around 10h00, So-oabeb was inspecting his farm situated 30 km south-east of Arandis, when he discovered a tree used by the poachers to butcher the animals. It is suspected that the animals were killed on Friday night.

The poachers put up wires to hang the meat under the tree after they skinned the animals before taking away the meat.

It is believed that poachers have been using the same tree for similar poaching escapades for a long time as there were old springbok and kudu horns, dry and fresh hides, as well as hooves scattered around.

Upon discovery, he alerted Arandis police who called in officials from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

So-oabeb said in the past, he noticed car lights around his farm, adding that because the farm is big, he was unable to catch the poachers.

Ministry of Environment and Tourism official, Wensel Mavara, said of the nine springbok some were expecting young ones, adding that the poachers removed the foetuses and left them by the tree. Mavara said one springbok was found dead without the poachers taking the meat.

“I don’t know why they killed it and just left it there without taking the meat.”

No arrest has yet been made.

Mavara is requesting communities to report illegal hunting to the ministry or to the nearest police.

“Communities must not buy wild meat if the sellers don’t have permits to sell such meat, because this thing of buying illegal meat is motivating poachers and they now have a big market. If you are caught buying illegal meat, the law will take its course,” Mavara warned.

He said animals contribute to the country’s economic sector through tourism.

“An environment without animals has no beauty at all. Poachers are known and it’s a matter of time before we arrest them. So they must surrender themselves.

This is a serious case,” he emphasised.