Angola Hunters Association alerts to the gravity of poaching

Mário Ribeiro told Lusa about an attempt to slaughter three female white rhinoceros inside a farm, located in the municipality of Cahama, in Cunene, by a group of individuals armed with firearms, type AK-47, registered in June, leaving an alert for the gravity of the phenomenon.

According to Mário Ribeiro, the caliber used was not suitable for rhino hunting, so the animals were injured and did not die.

“The female who took about five shots (…) was the only one we had to shoot, wisely from a veterinarian who came from Namibia, he gave her euthanasia,” he advanced, stressing that the other two females were operated and survived.

On that farm there were 11 rhinoceros, all imported for the repopulation of that region.

The ACA leader said the police are investigating and detained a suspect, while the others involved were on the run when they heard a car approaching.

” There’s a suspect in custody who was talking to the farm workers this afternoon asking for information. So far beyond the suspect we know nothing more,” he said.

Still this year, another case on another farm resulted in the slaughter of three rhinoceros, also imported with the same objective.

Mário Ribeiro said that the association he has been leading has existed for about 20 years and has fought to fight poachers, clarifying people “that theft is not the same thing as subsistence hunting”.

” We don’t have subsistence hunting, because the people who kill come for the roads to sell. Those who kill and come to the road sell is poacher stealth”, he said.

According to the source, in addition to raising awareness, the association has carried out work to collect traps and weapons, with the support of the National Police.

” We are doing a very interesting job, especially on the National Road 100, where many animals were slaughtered and today they are no longer seen”, he stressed.

With the siege of the authorities, added Mário Ribeiro, poachers to circumvent the situation find other areas of activity, such as the province of Cuanza Sul.

” Just yesterday I passed and saw animals hanging, endemic. The more endemic animals we kill by poachers the more our fauna is damaged, it is a serious situation,” he signaled.

EcoAngola, an environmental defense organization, has today expressed concern about the protection of wildlife, considering “crucial that Angola strengthens its measures to protect biodiversity, particularly monitoring and accountability for environmental crimes”.

For EcoAngola, the case of the three rhinos shot at Cunene also reinforces “the need for transparent research, as well as the fight against poaching and illegal trafficking of species and parts thereof”.

The main purpose of the slaughter of rhinoceros is the sale of horns, endangering the existence of this species.