Two Nabbed Selling Pangolin at Guruve Primary School

Pangolins are an endangered wild animal species. In case you come across one, inform the nearest traditional leader, police or national parks office. Failure to do so and possessing it can result in a lengthy jail term.

Speaking to Bindura Eye recently, ZRP deputy provincial spokesperson Assistant Inspector Tonny Nyandoro said:

“Members of the public should report any stray wild animal to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority or nearest police station. It is an offence in terms of Section 45(1)(b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20:14 as read with Section 128(1)(b) of the same Act to be found in possession of protected animals such as pangolin without licence or permit.”

He made the remarks after two men were nabbed on Friday, March 07  selling a pangolin at Guruve business centre.

He said on the aforementioned date at around 1 pm, CID Guruve received information to the effect that Talent Chikowore (30) of Nhamoyebonde Village, Guruve under Chief Chipuriro and Nyasha Chidembo (27) also of Guruve were looking for a pangolin buyer at Guruve business centre.

A team of detectives pretended to be buyers and approached Talent who said the pangolin was with Nyasha Chidembo at Guruve Primary School ground.

He then led them to the ground where they saw Nyasha with the pangolin, placed in a sack inside a brown bucket. The detectives asked the accused persons to produce a license or permit which allowed them to trade pangolins and they failed, hence they were subsequently arrested.

The pangolin was taken to Guruve ZIMPOST for weighing in the presence of the accused persons. It weighed 11.28 kilograms with an estimated monetary value of above US$5 000-00.

The two are expected in court on Monday.