Problem Animal Control (PAC) Hunts are Illegal in Mozambique

Problem Animal Control (PAC) Hunts are Illegal in Mozambique

Afonso Madope, National Director of Conservation Areas in Mozambique confirms that Problem Animal Control (PAC) Hunts in Mozambique are Illegal and he adds that "Criminal charges will be laid against participating hunters, outfitters and professional hunters involved in such practices."

I did a search for PAC hunts in Mozambique on the internet and to my surprise found lots of these types of hunts offered by hunting consultants and outfitters. No permits that would allow a hunting client to participate in for PAC hunt are issued in Mozambique. The repercussions can be severe, do your research!

For a peace of mind, you can always contact the Association of Mozambican Safari Operators (AMOS) by emailing the association Chairman Mr. Adamo Valy at adamov@hollard.co.mz.

This very topic is detailed in the latest Hunting Report publication. Pretty amazing how many of these "hunts" are being sold illegally. Scary actually.

I believe that most of the problem stems from the fact that there are simply too many grey areas in Mozambique when it comes to PAC. In certain provinces, officials will react to PAC reports by offering the animals to certain hunting operations. In a few cases they make the proviso that only the PH or employee thereof can shoot the animal, but in others, they simply add the animal to quota and hey presto its legal.
This is exactly where the problem lies. There are too many people with the ability to countermand law and there is no accountability or transparency in the entire process.
Leaving this kind of power with low level government officials is extremely dangerous and could result in higher level officials(who possibly havent had their cut) overturning the decision and leaving the PH and client in hot water.

Originally Posted by zimfrosty

I believe that most of the problem stems from the fact that there are simply too many grey areas in Mozambique when it comes to PAC. In certain provinces, officials will react to PAC reports by offering the animals to certain hunting operations. In a few cases they make the proviso that only the PH or employee thereof can shoot the animal, but in others, they simply add the animal to quota and hey presto its legal.
This is exactly where the problem lies. There are too many people with the ability to countermand law and there is no accountability or transparency in the entire process.
Leaving this kind of power with low level government officials is extremely dangerous and could result in higher level officials(who possibly havent had their cut) overturning the decision and leaving the PH and client in hot water.

I mostly agree.

However, shooting a PAC animal is not illegal. Selling a PAC hunt in advance is illegal.
There are several different types of areas where game may be hunted in Moz. The Hunting Coutadas are one type, Conservation, Parks and Tribal lands are others, Fazendas de Bravo (privately leased) are another. Each area has a different Gov't Authority over it.
PAC animals can't be exported--they become the property of the village and/or the Gov't.

On the back of PH licences is a statement in Portuguese that says the PH must help eliminate problem animals if requested to do so. If/when the district comissioner or Head of Agriculture, the village chief, the game scout, or the PH says "this is a problem animal, shoot it" --then shoot it. No one will care whether it was the hunter's or the PH's bullet that ended the problem.
15 years or so ago, there were dishonest sportsmen and PH's who used "PAC" as a reason to kill trophies far from human settlement that were not in reality PAC animals.

Just for the record. There are NO grey areas around PAC in Mozambique. PAC may NOT be done for reward and it will NOT be added to your quota. Quotas are done at the beginning of the year. Only PH, police Forna Bravia, or Military may destroy or solve problem animal conflict.

Thanks Jerome for keeping us up to date.

What is the legality of a hunter making a PAC kill in Zimbabwe?

Originally Posted by ikeda

What is the legality of a hunter making a PAC kill in Zimbabwe?

It's illegal. You may not get caught....but those hunts are all illegal!

Originally Posted by ikeda

What is the legality of a hunter making a PAC kill in Zimbabwe?

You would have alot of time to learn a new language...