Gouverneur zuidelijke Angolese provinvie Candida Celeste bezorgd over stroperij in Yona National Park - Stropers zijn vooral toeristen

Governor worried about poaching at Yona

game reserve

22-02-2010 Angola Press, Angola


Namibe – The governor of southern Namibe province, Cândida Celeste, on Sunday expressed concern about poaching at the Yona National Park, which has been causing the extinction of some animals of rare species such as lions, African wild dogs, elephants and rhinoceros, among others.

According to the governor, who was speaking to the press at the end of a work visit paid to the region, situated at 320 kilometres to the north of Namibe province, there is a need to create a programme of encouraging game rangers by paying their salaries with the fines they charge on the offenders.

“We are worried about this problem. We shall meet in order to give proper instructions, because our intention is continue with the work of the government, creating conditions of tourism at the game reserve. We will work in order for it to return to reality”, the governor
reaffirmed.

To maintain security at the site and combat poaching, Cândida Celeste called for the collaboration of the population of Yona commune.

“The police station of this region is very important, but the staff are not enough for the desired objectives, therefore we wish to urge the population of Yona to collaborate in order to avoid problems such as cattle theft, poaching and domestic violence, and thereby grant more peace to the communities”, she stressed.

To the traditional authorities, the governor also asked for their contribution in reporting the offenders, mainly tourists from the neighbouring Huila province, South Africans and Namibians.
Yona commune is well-known by tourists in the country and abroad due to its economic, historic, cultural, scientific and tourism potential.

Te Yona National Park was created in 1955 by the ordinance number 40040 of January 20.
Most of the park’s infrastructures were destroyed due to the South African invasion, and the administration of the region rehabilitated the residence of rangers of Salondjamba, entry of the park.

(Bron: http://www.portalangop.co.ao/)