Poachers Invade Liwonde National Park

Authorities at Liwonde National Park say they are experiencing at least one illegal poaching incident every day.

The Park's Manager, Dave Robertson has told Zodiak Online that illegal hunting of animals, illegal fishing and theft of fence wire which poachers use as snares to trap animals in the park is posing a threat to endangered species.

Robertson says the park rangers work around the clock but due to the large area, they fail to provide security everywhere.

"We are very concerned about these cases. Our rangers work around the clock but we have a big area to cover and cannot be everywhere.

“We have many cases of theft of the electric wires from the fence and these are then used to make wire snares with to trap animals inside the park," said Robertson.

"This is a problem for a number of reasons as these snares can kill a wide range of animals including endangered species," he added.

Chairperson for Natural Resources Justice Network, Kossam Munthali has called for community engagement on the matter, saying the total wildlife lost annually from the current daily poaching incidents in the Park is worrisome.

"It is very sad that these daily poaching incidences would end up be a hunger figure of animals killed by the end of the year, I expect the authorities to engage the surrounding communities to promote an ownership culture," noted Munthali.

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