Zimbabwe PH & Son Killed in Alleged Case of "Mistaken Identity".

Strange that a park ranger is shooting first asking questions later!
 
A past grudge? A park ranger a member of a poaching ring? An accident? Nine people at the vehicle and the Chiarelli's are the only ones killed. Why didn't the six parks rangers with the Chiarelli's return fire at the ant poaching patrol that was shooting at them. A lot of unanswered questions. Wonder if we will ever know.


Thoughts and prayers for the family.

 

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A lot of questions.......
 
Fellow Hunters, Guides and Safari Community

Richard Maasdorp and Gary Layard of The Zambezi Society yesterday visited the scene of the tragic incident which took place in Mana Pools National Park on Sunday 13th March and resulted in the deaths of Claudio Chiarelli and his son Max Chiarelli.

The two deceased died instantly when caught in the mistaken fire of a National Parks patrol of three rangers at about 3.30pm. - Sunday 13th March.

Claudio and Max, together with Francesco Marconati were providing voluntary support to deploy two National Parks anti-poaching patrols consisting of 6 rangers with the intention of uplifting the three rangers who were in the field following fresh spoor of poachers.

The group had parked their vehicle on the side of the road in the middle section of the Mana Pools National Park to await the arrival of the three Park rangers who had been tracking poachers in dense bush since 9.00am. that morning.

The intention was to meet at the road and hand over three fresh rangers to continue the follow-up.

Claudio and Max Chiarelli with Francesco Marconati took the opportunity to open the bonnet of their vehicle to inspect the engine. Meanwhile, the 6 Park rangers they were transporting had dismounted from the vehicle and arranged themselves next to it while waiting for their three colleagues to arrive.

Unbeknown to them, the vehicle had been parked within just 15 metres of where the poachers’ tracks had crossed the road.

Meanwhile, the anti-poaching patrol in hot pursuit, heard voices, crouched down, and slowly moved forward through the thick undergrowth.

Through a gap in the bushes, they saw part of a blue shirt. They assumed this was a poacher and let off a burst of gunfire.

Tragically, both Claudio and Max were killed instantly.

As the anti-poaching patrol rangers were crouched, they were unable to see the road at all.

Fortunately, the 6 rangers awaiting deployment did not return fire.

Richard Maasdorp, Strategic Director of The Zambezi Society stated: “Today (Monday 14th March 2016), we witnessed a thorough on-site investigation by the Zimbabwe Police CID and members of the National Parks Investigations Branch and Senior Management.

The Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority and other state organs now, more than ever, need support and resources to contain their battle against wildlife poaching.”

Claudio was known and liked by every hunter and Guide in Zimbabwe. Max a talented young man taken too early.

We, Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association, extend our very deepest sympathy to Guliana and Virginia Chiarelli, family and friends on this terrible tragedy. The unselfish attitude of Claudio and Max Chiarelli, in assisting National Parks for anti-poaching, unfortunately cost them their lives and will not be forgotten.
This tragedy is deeply regretted.


Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association
 
Even more heartbreaking to read about what happened based on the investigation. Prayers continue to go out to this family
 
sounds like a shoot first and ask questions later,such a tragedy.
 
Sad news, and very poor procedures by the rangers.
 
they saw part of a blue shirt. They assumed this was a poacher and let off a burst of gunfire.

Seriously? You see a blue shirt and you let rip with automatic fire? Imagine, just imagine, what the consequences would be if I said "I saw movement and a tan colour, so I shot" and it turned out to be a person.
 
Puts a terrifying twist on shoot to kill policy. Shoot without thinking.
 
Puts a terrifying twist on shoot to kill policy. Shoot without thinking.

I am curious, how many police and military persons here would not return fire when a burst comes through the bush killing two of your own? What makes you not shoot back?
 
I am curious, how many police and military persons here would not return fire when a burst comes through the bush killing two of your own? What makes you not shoot back?

My first responses would be:
They were not shot at.
They had not identified the target/threat.
 
Why I asked is because the other Rangers were standing next to the vehicle when then two were killed looking at the engine. I presume that if the ranger doing the shooting could only see a blue shirt, those on the receiving end of automatic fire would only know there was gunfire coming their direction from the bush. The ranger hit and killed two targets, not one. Was that spray or focused shooting? I am curious how one is trained to respond when your position is sprayed with automatic fire. Just hit the deck or suppression fire?
 
My first responses would be:
They were not shot at.
They had not identified the target/threat.
Wayne, not sure how to take this.

If you are suggesting the other 6 did not fire back because they had not identified the threat, then it seems they were much better trained than the first three.

I can't understand firing blind at a blue shirt. I could perhaps understand firing blind into the bush if automatic fire is coming out of said bush.
 
Why I asked is because the other Rangers were standing next to the vehicle when then two were killed looking at the engine. I presume that if the ranger doing the shooting could only see a blue shirt, those on the receiving end of automatic fire would only know there was gunfire coming their direction from the bush. The ranger hit and killed two targets, not one. Was that spray or focused shooting? I am curious how one is trained to respond when your position is sprayed with automatic fire. Just hit the deck or suppression fire?

Establish fire superiority would be the logical response to most of us. Not sure how much training Zim Parks guys actually have. Certainly not much with live ammo.

Your response is the same as mine when I found out there were six parks rangers with the Chiarelli's. Their response was not logical to a western mind, making me wonder if there was something else going on. The thing I have to remind myself is we are not dealing with a western mindset. A lot of unanswered questions.
 
This still stinks. If these guys are trained (probably a big if), the immediate response to such an ambush is to attack into it and establish fire superiority - would have been pretty easy to do with 6 rangers. What a tragedy.
 
Wayne, not sure how to take this.

If you are suggesting the other 6 did not fire back because they had not identified the threat, then it seems they were much better trained than the first three.

I can't understand firing blind at a blue shirt. I could perhaps understand firing blind into the bush if automatic fire is coming out of said bush.

I can't understand this at all. It is a overwhelming tragedy.

I was not certain the Rangers were all from the same "group".
If the 6 Rangers were in the same vehicle with the victims and not separated, then it makes ZERO sense they did not respond.

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