Police arrests three over elephant poaching (Uganda)

Author(s)

Patrick Okino, New Vision

Date Published

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The police in Nwoya district have arrested three men over alleged poaching and illegal possession of wild life products.

The trio identified as Ayella Bob, Okello Eric and Otema Justin are all residents of Anaka village.

The elephant according to the police was killed by unknown people in the area last week but the trio removed the tusks and started looking for market. It was at this point that the Natural Resource Conservation Network leant of the deals and alerted police.

According to Otema, they were going to sell the tusks at sh300, 000 a kilogram, one tusk weighs 27kg and the suspects had two.

“We shall take the file to resident state attorney and if the file is sanctioned, we shall arraign them before court,” said a senior police officer in Nwoya who declined to be quoted.

The suspects according to police have been transferred to Gulu police station.

NRCN head of media department, Robinah Rabugho said killing of the elephants is a setback to both conservation and tourism gains.

“Elephants are under threat with an increased demand for ivory both locally and international market,” she said.

She said it is estimated that, half a dozen of elephants are killed every year by ivory hunters from the national parks like Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison and Bwindi.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1444467/police-arrests-elephant-poaching