Fishermen Killing Crocodiles Raises Concern in Nsanje
Brave Madise, the manager of Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve, acknowledged receiving reports about the killing of crocodiles in the Elephant Marsh.
NSANJE, Malawi- The Department of Fisheries office at Bangula in Nsanje has expressed concern over the tendency of some fishermen who kill aquatic animals like crocodiles while fishing, which reduces the crocodile population in the water, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
Foster Kuloweka, a fisheries assistant, said in an interview that the department frequently patrols the Elephant Marsh water area where they have confronted fishermen who killed crocodiles.
"As the department of fisheries we do not handle the killing of crocodiles, so we refer the matter to the wildlife department to take action on these incidents," he said.
Brave Madise, the manager of Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve, acknowledged receiving reports about the killing of crocodiles in the Elephant Marsh.
He said officials rushed to the scene to address the fishers who killed the aquatic animals.
Madise urged fishermen to avoid such actions and release crocodiles back into the water if caught.
"In situations where they cannot release a crocodile and kill it in self defense, we recommend the bile be carefully removed and safely disposed under supervision, like in a deep pit latrine or buried in the soil, so no one can retrieve it," he said.
The reserve manager noted a crocodile's bile is poisonous and must always be handled with extreme care.
"Fisher folks should refrain from killing crocodiles where possible and release them back into the waters once caught," Madise said.