Two men caught with elephant meat in Quirimbas National Park handed 6-year prison sentences in Cabo Delgado

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Two men caught with elephant meat in Quirimbas National Park handed 6-year prison sentences in Cabo Delgado

2:38 CAT | 28 May 2020

File photo: ANAC

Two Mozambicans living within the Quirimbas conservation area who were detained in May 2019 in possession of 60 kilograms of elephant meat have been sentenced to six years in prison by the Cabo Delgado Province Judicial Court

“By law, we should apply between 12 to 16 years in prison, but because it has not been proved that you were the ones who killed the elephant, and it seems that you are unaware of the law and procedures in relation to conservation areas, which we consider to be mitigating, both are sentenced to six years in prison,” Judge Geraldo Patrício said at the time of sentencing.

After reading the sentence, the judge educated the defendants in the minutiae of nature conservation legislation. “You could even have [legally] consumed the meat of the slaughtered elephant, but first you should have reported the case to the park authorities, who have to decide the fate of [the meat of] protected animals that are illegally hunted.”

The 60 kg of meat is estimated to have been worth around 120 thousand meticais. No tusks were found.

Quirimbas National Park authorities say the sentence, though reduced, will serve as a lesson for poachers and especially the population living within the conservation area.

“We believe that six years exile from family life is enough to deter poachers who continue to invade conservation areas and decimate protected and endangered species. They also harm tourism, since the park loses attractions,” Head of Park Inspection Assane Mussa said after sentencing.

By Hizidine Achá

Source: O País