In a shocking incident highlighting ongoing poaching challenges in Zimbabwe, a ranger from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Hali Mabuya (39), was arrested in connection with the brutal poaching of three lions in Hwange National Park.
The carcasses of the lions, found headless and without paws, raised immediate concerns among wildlife authorities after it was revealed that Mabuya, stationed at the Mtshibi Camp, was armed with a .458-caliber service rifle, along with 52 rounds of ammunition—30 of which were not issued to him.
Investigators working on the case suggested that Mabuya used his firearm to k!ll the animals, particularly a collared gestating lioness and another female lioness alongside a male lion, as forensic evidence indicated gunshot wounds consistent with his rifle at the scene near Dom Pan waterhole.
The brutal method of the poaching, along with tire tracks and human footprints found nearby, pointed towards a potential poaching syndicate, raising suspicions about insider involvement.
Mabuya’s immediate foray into suspicion was sparked when he solicited a colleague in the armory department to falsify records regarding the dates he had signed out the rifle, an action which ultimately led to an internal probe and his subsequent arrest.
During a court appearance on Saturday, Mabuya faced serious charges related to unlawful hunting and possession of ammunition without a certificate, as he remained in custody awaiting further legal proceedings set for November 1.
The incident drew parallels to the 2015 international scandal surrounding the killing of Cecil the lion by American hunter Walter Palmer, which had previously galvanized global attention on wildlife poaching in Zimbabwe.
Not only did the recent killings of the lions, valued at approximately US$60,000, reverberate through conservationist circles, but they also highlighted the need for tighter regulations and oversight to safeguard endangered species against not just external poachers but also potential threats from within the ranks of park staff.
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