Poaching Surges in Morocco During COVID-19 Lockdown, Officials Report

"Several forms of offenses have been recorded, namely, hunting outside the regulatory calendar, hunting with prohibited means, night hunting, hunting in reserves and hunting of protected species" during this confinement period, indicates the ministry in a press release.

But thanks to the mobilization and vigilance of the forest agents supported by several associations for the protection of the natural heritage, several acts of hunting offenses have been repressed. In total, 49 offenses were recorded and 16 hunting weapons were seized, specifies the same source.

Following a telephone call, forestry agents in Marrakech had intercepted, on March 31, four people using hunting dogs in a reserve. They are facing justice. Similarly, forestry agents from the Forest Resources Conservation and Development Center in Tifelt had seized two hunting weapons belonging to two poachers.

Other poachers were also arrested in Tafraout (province of Tiznit), in Ait Mesoud, in Zemrane-Ouest (province of El Kelaa des Sraghnas and in other regions of the kingdom.