Stronghold trains park rangers to fight poaching in Mozambique
A Poacher’s trail of death
The poaching crisis in Mozambique, Africa is multifaceted. Some of it is unintended, mainly in the case of villagers trapping unlikely animals for food due to the oppression of the Chinese syndicate in the area.
But most of the poaching in Mozambique is intended for black market profit. Rhinos, elephants, and lions are illegally hunted and ripped apart. Other animals also suffer indirectly.
Here’s just a glimpse of the atrocities that the Stronghold team sees in Mozambique, as we work to empower local park rangers to fight poaching and care for the oppressed in the area.
A ranger finding evidence of poaching in the area he patrols: a rifle and a rhino horn.
Rhinoceros horns are frequently used as a medicinal substance in China, although the actual “medicinal” properties of rhino horns is dubious. Nevertheless, rhino horns fetch thousands of dollars on the black market. So poachers don’t think twice about violently de-horning both black and white rhinos.
The rifle and rhino horn recovered by rangers last year.
Stronghold founder and CEO, Ephraim Mattos, briefly describes the brutality that poached rhinos experience on the Cleared Hot podcast in April, 2023.
Poachers have cunning methods of evading capture, such as wearing shoes with carpet or backwards heels to confuse park rangers.
Likewise, they have poaching methods that are more subtle than rhino de-horning, but equally horrific.
For example, poachers will poison chunks of meat and place them in trees to lure lions. The lion will instinctively climb the tree and feast on the carcass. The poison takes effect quickly to kill the lion (pictured below).
Poachers will then harvest the lion’s claws, teeth, pelt, and gall bladder to sell to the Chinese.
A poisoned lion carcass that’s been harvested for organs by poachers.
Sadly, other animals will fall prey to the poisoned meat, like the critically-endangered white-backed vulture (pictured).
This white-backed vulture fell prey to poisoned meat, which poachers set out to lure lions.
Following our “Charity With Dignity” model, the Stronghold team empowers the park rangers in Mozambique to better preserve Mozambique’s ecosystem from poachers, and also protect oppressed people. This includes medevac training, helicopter drills, and other emergency care resources for the park rangers who risk their lives in the remote areas they patrol.
Stronghold founder and CEO Ephraim Mattos helps train park rangers in Mozambique.
The aid we provide to Mozambique and beyond is all possible because of our generous supporters.
Right now, you are helping us save lives and support those who face oppression and violence every day.
Thank you.