3 elephants killed at Murchison
Jan 02, 2005
THREE of the endangered elephants have been killed in the northern part of Murchison Falls National Park, <b>Gerald Tenywa.</b>
THREE of the endangered elephants have been killed in the northern part of Murchison Falls National Park, Gerald Tenywa.
Speaking on Thursday, Moses Mapesa, the acting executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), said suspected poachers butchered the elephants and disappeared with the ivory.
He said poachers had started killing elephants in Murchison Falls National Park in a strange manner because “the killers were untraceable.’’
Mapesa was presenting a report during the UWA end-of-year party at the parliamentary gardens.
“It is unusual, but we have tightened strategies to stop this,’’ Mapesa said, adding that there was a strong liaison between UWA and security operatives.
Mapesa also said they had contacted law enforcement agencies in the region, including the Lusaka Task Agreement Force, set up recently to police wildlife crime.
Speaking at the ceremony, John Nagenda, the chairperson of UWA’s board, warned against poaching.
Sources within UWA said carcasses were discovered in the park early last month.
The killing of the three elephants follows another massacre of seven, including one baby in the park about two years ago.
Mapesa said Murchison contains about 700-900 elephants, up from about 400 about a decade ago.
Ends
Speaking on Thursday, Moses Mapesa, the acting executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), said suspected poachers butchered the elephants and disappeared with the ivory.
He said poachers had started killing elephants in Murchison Falls National Park in a strange manner because “the killers were untraceable.’’
Mapesa was presenting a report during the UWA end-of-year party at the parliamentary gardens.
“It is unusual, but we have tightened strategies to stop this,’’ Mapesa said, adding that there was a strong liaison between UWA and security operatives.
Mapesa also said they had contacted law enforcement agencies in the region, including the Lusaka Task Agreement Force, set up recently to police wildlife crime.
Speaking at the ceremony, John Nagenda, the chairperson of UWA’s board, warned against poaching.
Sources within UWA said carcasses were discovered in the park early last month.
The killing of the three elephants follows another massacre of seven, including one baby in the park about two years ago.
Mapesa said Murchison contains about 700-900 elephants, up from about 400 about a decade ago.
Ends