I received this email this morning from the people in Mozambique who sent me the pictures I posted yesterday about the Serval that was shot.

Dear Samantha,

Thanks for your E-mail re the Serval trapped then shot last Friday.
Your quick rely did us a lot of good as we feel quite isolated and alone about this and so many other cases of regular poaching in the area.

The killing took place outside the Maputo Elephant Reserve, not too far, about 15 or 20 kms from the Reserve in an area that is supposed to be “a protected biodiversity area” as it is a natural continuation of the St. Lucia/Kosi Bay reserves just accross the border and a corridor area for the Tembe and Maputo transfrontier parks agreement signed between SA and Mozambique.

Every day poachers in the area use wire lace traps to catch all kinds of animals. Yet, lace traps of any kind are totally forbidden by law under any circumstances.

A civil servant with a rifle and a taste for blood (he confesses that even if it werent for the money he would still kill as he “needs to kill and see blood”… he alone is responsible for the death of most species of gazelle in the district.

As for the Serval it is a wild cat protected by Mozambican law: the fine for hunting a Serval is 5.000 Meticais (circa US$200).  The Serval, by law, cant even be hunted legally in hunting grounds by people with hunting licences.
In this particular case the hunter commited several offenses including:
- used a wire lace trap which is constantly against the law;
- used a borrowed rifle even though he himself has no permit to carry guns;
- killed a SERVAL which is protected by law;

Who we are?

the person who sent you the original photos is a close friend.  I am a Mozambican woman who, with other people, is trying to establish a new nature conservation NGO.

Until the new Association is has a legal existence we cannot do much nor say much as you may well understand.

Once the new Association comes into being we will let you know and then you may tell the world about us and our aims and objectives.

If you ever come to Mozambique please do not hesitate to contact us.
In the meanwhile, if you know of any South African individuals or organizations in nearby Kwazulu-Natal whom we may get in touch with regarding our future work in Matutuine, we´d be thankful if you would send us such contacts.

Thanks again for your interest and for placing the photos in the Web.

Regards,
Joana

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