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Kinyarwanda
Police have arrested Pontien Barushyihana, a poacher, who was found carrying four animals he had trapped and killed in Nyungwe National Park on the side of Bweyeye sector in Rusizi District.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Innocent Gasasira, the police spokesperson for the Western region confirmed the development and said that the suspect had killed three yellow-backed duiker and one L'Hoest's monkey.
The yellow-backed duiker (locally known as Ifumberi) is a forest dwelling antelope in the order Artiodactyla from the family Bovidae. Yellow-backed duikers are the most widely distributed of all duikers while the L'Hoest's monkey (locally known as Icyondi), or mountain monkey, have a dark coat and can be distinguished by a characteristic white beard.
“The suspect was arrested in an operation against poaching and we have since transferred his case file to Rwanda Investigations Bureau that is handling the case,” CIP Gasasira said.
He thanked the people, who tipped off the police on the illegal hunting activities.
Under article 416 of the penal code, anyone caught in poaching activities, if convicted, faces an imprisonment of up to two years and or a fine of Rwf2 million
In February this year, RNP in partnership with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) conducted a similar operation in Nyungwe National Park and arrested three people who had killed two antelopes. They were caught with the meat, skins and heads of the killed antelopes.
Despite the mentioned, CIP Gasasira said poaching cases declined following intense patrols in national parks in the country.
