Mozambique: Zinave National Park receives 10 black rhinos
Mozambique: Two arrested for illegal possession of pangolin
2:37 CAT | 10 Sep 2025
FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Lusa]
Agents of the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) have arrested two men in Chibabava district, Sofala province, central Mozambique, for illegal possession of a pangolin, an animal listed as endangered.
According to Sernic spokesperson in Sofala, Alfeu Sitoe, the two men caught the animal in Chimanimani National Park, in Manica province, also in the centre of the country, and transported it to the Vuvué area of Chibabava, where they were detained by police authorities.
“The citizens were in possession of a pangolin, an animal protected by law, and were immediately arrested and charged with illegal possession of protected species,” Sitoe told reporters yesterday, adding that the suspects intended to sell the animal.
Police added that the pangolin has already been handed over to the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the entity responsible for protecting fauna and flora in Mozambique.
Mozambique’s biodiversity conservation law has penalties of up to 16 years in prison and various fines for hunters, traffickers and others involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
According to data released by ANAC in 2021, it is estimated that around 50,000 pangolins are killed annually in the southern African region for illegal trade, surpassing the illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn.
According to the United Nations World Environment Programme, approximately one million pangolins were trafficked to the Asian black market between 2009 and 2019.
Source: Lusa
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.