Friday, April 8, 2011

WARDENS SEIZE GUNS FROM POACHERS

Forest wardens have seized three AK-47 assault rifles and three hunting guns from a group of Zimbabweans detained in Magoe district, in the western province of Tete, reports Thursday’s issue of the Maputo daily “Noticias”.The Magoe district director of economic services, Jorge Valente, said the Zimbabweans used the weapons to kill wildlife inside Mozambique, and to threaten any wardens they meet in the bush.“These guns are used to frighten off our wardens when they are on patrol”, said Valente. “The Magoe border with Zimbabwe is very long, and we only have 16 wardens, which means the area they can patrol is insignificant”.He added that the wardens are short of transport – both land vehicles and boats. Magoe is on the south bank of Cahora Bassa lake, and the wardens need boats to travel along the shores of the lake.Valente said the district government is reviving community councils to preserve forestry and wildlife resources. One of the measures being taught to farmers in order to protect their fields against elephants is to plant chilli peppers, since elephants dislike the taste of this plant.

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