Since the introduction in Morocco of quarantine measures in the context of the health crisis linked to (Covid19) on March 20, 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, noted several acts of poaching in different regions of the country, perpetrated by hunters taking advantage of the lockdown.
During this period, several forms of crime were recorded, namely, hunting outside the regulatory schedule, hunting with prohibited means, hunting at night, hunting in reserves and hunting of protected species, the ministry said in a press release.
The mobilization and vigilance of forest agents supported by several associations for the protection of natural heritage have made it possible to curb several acts of hunting offenses. 49 offenses were recorded with the seizure of 16 hunting weapons.
Legal proceedings have been brought against the perpetrators of several acts, notably four people using hunting dogs in a reserve, who were caught on March 31 by agents of the water and forests of Marrakech, following a telephone call denouncing this illegal act, as well as the seizure of two hunting weapons, belonging to two poachers, by agents of Waters and forests from the center of Conservation and development of forest resources of Tifelt.
According to the same source, poachers were surprised around 3 a.m. by the wildlife monitoring and control unit of Waters and Forests, on April 14, at the center for the conservation and development of forest resources of Tifelt. The poachers fled and were identified and prosecuted the next day. The same goes for a poacher from Casablanca, who was apprehended red-handed with four accomplices, hunting hares during the night, in the region of El Jadida.
A poacher identified on Facebook on April 20, exposing a hare, was also captured in the El Kelaa des Sraghnas region.
In the mountains at Tafraout (province of Tiznit), the Water and Forest agents, in coordination with the Royal Gendarmerie and the local authorities, succeeded on May 04, 2020, in arresting three individuals who hunted two cuvier’s gazelles and their prosecution under arrest is still under way, said the ministry, which said that in the same region, two other offenders were arrested on May 7, for attempted illegal hunting in a reserve.
The agents also seized a dozen of nets and fishing equipment installed by poachers, near the Ahmed El Hansali dam, by forestry agents from the province of Khénifra and arrested two people on May 6 for fishing with prohibited means, outside the regulatory fishing calendar, at the Ait Mesoud dam.
In the Province of El Kelaa des Sraghnas, water and forest agents noted on May 9 a crime of capturing goldfinches. These birds were released immediately and the prohibited means used in this operation were seized.
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