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Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu (36), from Kasibi village, Matetsi in Hwange was arrested for illegally possessing and dealing a live pangolin for one thousand dollars at Matetsi River Bridge on the 19^th of March 2018.

The arrest was confirmed by the police on Sunday.

“Information was received from a usual informant about a man who had a live pangolin, selling it to any willing buyer for one thousand dollars.”

The information was confirmed by the dealer himself when he was contacted undercover, and a deal was struck.

On the 19^th of March at 8pm, three of National Parks’ Investigations Officers, together with one officer from Mineral and Border Control Unit went to Matetsi River Bridge where the supposed buyers were to meet with the accused to complete the deal.

With the advantage of the element of surprise they were able to apprehend the accused, along with the pangolin alive in a brown sack which the accused was carrying it in.

Accused Ndlovu was charged of breaking section 128 (1) (b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20; 14 “Illegal possession/ dealing of live pangolin.’

The apprehended pangolin was used as an exhibit at Hwange Magistrate court on the 20^th of March 2018, and was later released back to the wild.

The accused pleaded guilty at his court appearance and his he will be sentenced on the third of April 2018, with the allowance for him to present any special circumstances that may have been at par.

Apprehended live pangolin.

Pangolins are specially protected animals under the Parks and Wildlife Act 20; 14, therefore the expected sentence could go as far as 12 years in prison.

The unnamed informant is to be rewarded for his courage and timeliness to report the information which saved the pangolin.

Insert by - Munkuli Godfrey | Bulawayo Regional Office | Western Region

I felt like a downright trailblazer as I trekked through the grassy plains of Zimbabwe’s Matobo National Park, hopscotching over fallen branches and crunchy, dried leaves.

Up ahead, a group of fellow explorers had formed a tight semicircle, with their eyes fixed to the ground and grins stretching from ear to ear. I picked up my pace and caught up, only to be met with a steaming pile of … poop.

The fanfare had nothing to do with the dung itself, but rather what it represented. These droppings were fresh; they had been left by an adult southern white rhino that was likely just minutes ahead of us on the trail. At that moment, we made a silent pact: move swiftly, remain quiet and, hopefully, see one of these majestic creatures up close.

Don’t let the name fool you — white rhinos aren’t “white,” but rather light gray in color. They are also much larger than their darker counterparts and have a longer head and wider mouth, according to Jay Parmar, owner of U.S.-based tour operator Wander Africa. Another helpful identifier? You guessed it: the animal’s poop. While the waste of black rhinos is made of splint-like materials — usually chopped off at a 45-degree angle — white rhinos will produce a much grassier manure.

The park, which is located in central Zimbabwe, has populations of both black and southern white rhinos. We were tracking the latter — a species of grazers introduced to the area in 1964 from neighboring South Africa, according to Emmerson Magodhi, tourism manager for Matobo. White rhinos are found in multiple parts of the park, while black rhinos are confined to a special game area. An Intensive Protection Zone distinction protects these creatures from poachers, and armed security rangers patrol 24 hours per day (we were accompanied by one such ranger throughout our visit).

Matobo also attracts tourists for its many hiking trails, unique landscape and rich history; the land features rock art left by ancient dwellers and is home to the grave of British imperialist Cecil John Rhodes. It’s also only about a 40-minute drive from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city and an international hub serviced by South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates and more.

Tracking rhinos here is much like a game of hide-and-seek, and it’s a task made easier by using the animal’s “natural” clues, and the fact that these so-called “hiders” tend to move very slowly, only changing sleeping positions once every 30 to 40 minutes.

“Rhino tracking is one of those rare opportunities in life for tourists to come close to an animal that is a ‘world over’ while in its natural environment,” Magodhi said. “It is one of the most adventurous experiences one can do in their lifetime.”

We walked for just five minutes more, and then we saw them: two white rhinos, their slate-gray hue serving as a form of camouflage against a background of towering granite rocks. The pair patiently allowed us to play paparazzi — not a bad ending to our grown-up game of hide-and-seek.

Booking Tips
A rhino-tracking experience needs to be booked with the park at least one or two days in advance. Those interested in reserving this should contact park officials at [email protected] or [email protected].

Emmerson Magodi - extract from travelagewest - http://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Adventure-Travel/A-Guide-to-Tracking-Rhinos-in-Zimbabwe/#.WqqFhGZ7HOQ

This year’s World Wildlife Day in Zimbabwe will be commemorated jointly with the 28th Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day. The event will be hosted by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife authority, Environmental Management Agency,and Forestry Commission on the 3^rd of March 2018, at the Africa Unity Square in Harare.

Parks and Wildlife Management Authority invites tenders from suitable and reputable suppliers of patrol boots.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) may be collected from Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Head Quarters upon payment of US$10.00 non-refundable fee. Bids in sealed envelopes should be addressed to The Procurement Committee, Parks and Wildlife management Authority, P.O Box CY140 Cause-way Harare or can be delivered to The Procurement Committee, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Corner Borrowdale Road and Sandringham Drive Harare, not later than 10.00hrs on the closing date shown below

The closing Date for submission of Bids is 13 March 2018 at 10.00am. Bidders are free to witness the opening of the tender on the closing date and time at The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Head Office Lecture Theatre, Corner Borrowdale Road and

Please be informed that with effect from the 1^st of January 2018, the 30% SADC discount has been phased out.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority would like to take this opportunity to thank all its clients in the SADC region for their continued support towards the promotion of tourism in Zimbabwe.

For more information, please feel free to contact the Customer Services Office on the following contact details:

Calls: +263 772 111 846

WhatsApp: +263 776 134 164

Email: [email protected]