Mike

The problem is some of the meat poachers waste an enormous amount of meat. I hunted the West Nicholson area of Zimbabwe where there was a lot of gold panning tresspassers. The gold panners would set snares to catch say a kudu, and only eat a few kilograms leading to the rest of the animal being wasted. I think these poachers should be apprehended and jailed.

I saw the debate on the other forum and many comments on it being OK to poach for meat. While I agree it is wrong to completely exclude the local inhabitants from all hunting merely because they are so much poorer than Western safari hunters, The local communitiies should also benefit monetarily so they have an interest to stop poaching from within their own communities. if the poachers had their way they would eat all the 'nyama' in the bush and there would be nothing left. There are no controls on poaching if it is OK.

Of course if people are starving what is there to stop them.