A PROFESSIONAL hunter operating along the Zambezi Valley in Kanyemba area was yesterday accused of poaching hippopotamuses during the trial of safari operator Terrence Kelly, who is being accused of disassembling a bait meant to trap a lion.
Kelly, who is the director of Suscaden Investments, which operates a fisheries concession, is being accused of removing baits, cameras and snares used by a Big Five Concession’s client hunting a lion in the valley.
But Kelly is denying the charge saying the bait was put in an area where hunting is prohibited.
The safari operator, who is being represented by Everson Chatambudza, submitted that in terms of the lease agreement entered into by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Parks Authority) and his company in September 2017, the place is not designated for hunting purposes.
During trial yesterday, Michael Muller, who was under cross-examination by Kelly’s lawyer, admitted that the bait was in an area that is designated as a non-hunting area as it is near an airstrip.
Muller also admitted that according to the lease and the site map of the area, hunting is prohibited in that area.
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Chatambudza produced a form detailing the wild animals they killed in the national park showing two hippopotamuses killed instead of three.
“On this declaration form, you declared only two hippopotamuses, while in actual fact you killed three. Where is the declaration of the third one?”
Muller, however, denied that the form was his.
He refused to answer to the allegation that he had killed a third hippo.
Chatambudza asked Muller why they put the bait at 7:30pm when people are prohibited to enter the place after 6pm and the respondent also failed to respond to the question.
It is the State’s case that Kelly stole the camera and bait, but Chatambudza asked Muller what they observed when they arrived at the place where they set their bait.
Muller said they found a note written “No hunting area”.
Chatambudza asked Muller that if Kelly had stolen the camera, why did he not throw it in the river or destroy it since no one saw him removing it.
Muller said he had no comment.
Another witness, Richard Chapoto, told the court that Kelly was their neighbour who operates his businesses at the periphery of Zambezi River, which falls within their area.
He told the court that his company did paperwork for their client to hunt a lion, adding that he was surprised by Kelly’s conduct, including frustrating their clients.
But Chatambudza accused Chapoto of singing for his supper, saying the testimony he was giving in court was tainted.
Chatambudza further accused Chapoto of lying before the court that the area they put snares belonged to his employer.
According to the map and the lease submitted in court as an exhibit, hunting was not permitted in the leased area, and Chatambudza said Kelly’s company had to ensure that no hunting takes place.
Kelly also submitted that there has been illegal hunting within the area leased to Suscaden, adding that he had reported the illegal hunting to authorities.
The State alleges that on September 8, 2017, Kelly’s company signed a lease agreement with the Parks Authority for operating safari tourism activities.
It is alleged that on August 10, 2023, professional hunter Clifton Walker submitted a hunting permit to kill a lion and a leopard in the Big five Concession (Chewore North).
On the same date, Walker was assigned a Parks Authority game ranger to guide him in abiding by the permit.
The professional hunter killed a hippopotamus and set baits at strategic points with the guidance of rangers.
Walker allegedly also set up a motion sensor camera on the hanging bait.
It is alleged that on August 15, 2023, Kelly unlawfully entered the safari area where Walker had set the bait, chopped down the hanging bait and took the motion sensor camera with its 32GB memory card.