BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A Hwange man earned himself US$100 after he rescued a
pangolin that strayed into his homestead in the Matetsi.
The man, only identified as Hoko, was given the gift by the
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) after he handed
over the rare animal valued at US$5000.
“Hoko alerted us about the wandering pangolin at his
homestead and when we rescued it, we gave him a reward of US$ 100 for keeping
it safe from poachers,” said Matthew Muleya, the Zimparks ranger who handed
over the cash to the man.
Hoko’s story was in sharp contrast to that of Cleopas
Mlalazi (25) and Given Dube (28) from Madumabisa Village 3 in Hwange, who were
recently jailed for nine years for poaching a pangolin weighing 13 kilogrammes.
Dube and Mlalazi were caught by rangers after they were
spotted at the Matetsi Eastern Block farm on July 8.
Hwange provincial magistrate Tondeipi Zhou sent them to jail
after they pleaded guilty to poaching charges. Both pangolins have since been
released back to the wild.