Poachers abandon 8kg elephant tusk haul

Police have recovered three elephant tusks weighing 8kg that were abandoned by five fleeing poachers at the Mandaza Islands along the Zambezi River. The value of the tusks is yet to be established. Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri yesterday confirmed the incident. He said police also recovered about 50 kg of game meat, an axe, 5 x 5-litre empty containers, a blanket and a bedsheet. “On 14 September, police from Kazungula were patrolling along the Zambezi River at the Mandaza Islands. Poachers frequent the area in search of wild animals,” he said. “At around 7pm, the police saw five suspected poachers carrying luggage and they opened fire at the poachers. Sensing danger, the poachers abandoned the goods,” he said. Supt Phiri urged the public, especially those in conservancy areas, to alert the police when they see suspected poachers. The Government gazetted replacement value for each elephant is US$50 000. Recently, a man was arrested together with three accomplices for illegally possessing two elephant tusks in Harare. Source: The

Herald