Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Poaching continues active in GNP

Nov 2, 2009 - Gorongosa National Park

Poaching in the interior of the National Park of Gorongosa (GNP) continues active and worrisome, despite strong law enforcement measures.

This is an old, complex problem intimately related to socio-cultural and historical factors that are difficult to resolve, inherited from the origins of the creation of the Park in the 60s with the design of promoting an integral defense of nature and of its unequaled primordial aspects represented by the then, Gorongosa Hunting Reserve. 

Essentially, illegal covert hunting is practiced by some men of the communities that live on the outskirts of the Park. 

The poachers, that use diverse kinds of ties, traps and traditional weapons for the capture of animals, are taken, when captured, to the authorities of justice to be judged and penalized by their unlawful actions. 

The illicit action reduces to a certain extent, several species of small and medium size.  The statistics refer to between three thousand and 3,500 dead animals yearly, with a large emphasis on warthogs, monkeys and waterbucks. 


The primary destinations of the hunting products are consumption and commercial ends on a small scale in the corner markets, including local booths, generally transported on top of the head or by bicycles.


The regions of Tambarara and Casa Banana in the district of Gorongosa, Pedreira and Massapassua in Muanza, and Dingue-Dingue in Nhamatanda, are the regions that present the highest number of incidents - the months of September to December being the most critical time. 

The GNP Law Enforcement has redoubled its efforts, using all of the available means to halt the movements of the perpetrators and to deactivate and apprehend the traps, that at any moment may end up inclusively capturing and injuring man himself, in the interior of the protected area. 

According to the Chief of Law Enforcement, Adolfo Ruco, this work has resulted in the collection, on average, of 164 steel cables, seven traps and two homemade "canhangulo" firearms and the imprisonment of more than eight poachers each month. 

In 2008 2475 ties, 139 traps, and 20 “canhangulo” firearms were collected and 152 perpetrators were captured. 



However, the Director of the Department of Conservation, Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira, criticized the fact that "Unfortunately, the local authorities of governmental administration and police will not lend the necessary collaboration in the scope of Environmental Law, Law nº 10/99 of July 7, and will permit this illegal activity including the production and sale of traps in public places as is the case in Nhamatanda". 

In 2009, more than 60 poachers were delivered to the authorities.  A total of 64 citizens that practiced illegal hunting in the interior of GNP were caught and subsequently made criminally responsible, between January and August of this year. 

The individuals were detained by GNP scouts during search and patrol routines.

Also secluded, in the same period, 1,520 ties, 63 traps, including apprehension of 18 canhangulo firearms and considerable quantities of wildlife products. 



The meat confiscated in the possession of some lawbreakers, because of being a perishable product, was donated to the Health Center and other social institutions in Gorongosa, after a detailed description for investigation reports.

The offenders were judged and condemned by the Judicial Court of the District of Gorongosa to the payment of fines and fulfilling prison penalties that varied from 30 days to six months, converted into work for the Park. 

According to the Law Enforcemnt leader, the operations against furtive hunting are going to continue intensely in all protected areas with an aim to conserve the integrity of the ecosystems of the Park. 

GNP presently has 120 scouts, distributed around 21 observation points.

Despite of attacks of the poachers, the restoration of wildlife continues to be successful, with numerous herds of animals of different species able to be seen.

Remember that hunting within the limits of the Park is strictly banned by law, except for scientific reasons or by animal management needs. 




Graphic:  Department of Conservation
Photos:  Department of Conservation and Carlitos Sunza
Text:  Carlitos Sunza (Department of Communications/GNP)