THE Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has arrested a 29-year-old man of Chief Mbangombe’s area in Katete district for alleged possession of a live pangolin.
Pangolins, also referred to as scaly ant-eaters or trenggiling, are found naturally in tropical regions throughout Africa and Asia.
ZAWA spokesperson Sakabilo Kalembwe said the man identified as Gift Banda was arrested by ZAWA officers yesterday around 05:00 hours.
Mr Kalembwe said yesterday that Mr Banda claimed to have acquired the pangolin from Mozambique.
“According to him, he came with the animal from Mozambique in the company of his two friends who were seated in a vehicle while he was trying to secure market for it,” he said.
The market price for a live Pangolin is estimated at K25,000 but that it can fetch even more.
The pangolin is a protected species and that ZAWA officers have confiscated it.
He said ZAWA will later release the Pangolin back into the South Luangwa National Park.
Hooooo ok so now we know where to send poachers for pangolins., it is South Luangwa national park.
But we know there is no way on earth a ZAWA officer can release a Insono in back into nature, no ways.
I believe this article while informative, unfortunately does not help the cause for preservation of this endangered specie.
Just advise the young man to get a license to keep his pet. I say so because there is so much missing in this article. To allege that he was ‘looking for a market’ is not conclusive enough. How long did he have that flipping pangolin anyway? It appears he was already partial to it like you would a pet python or iguana…
show me the video of the ZAWA man releasing the rescued animal back in the wild
This is what ZAWA man will do.. Realising it and hunt it latter.
ACC, police, the army, Office of the president, the hon minister concerned, the press and concerned NGOs must All take keen interest in this case just to ensure the animal is returned to its natural habitat and given chance to procreate
Do you honestly think your lazy Minister of Tourism and Arts cares. She is sitting on her lazy a*s*s while getting paid to say what she is told to do and say. In fact she will confiscate the animal and make a huge return on it. Useless people we inded have hired in these positions.