In a win for animals, a prolific Congolese elephant poacher nicknamed “the butcher of Nouabale Ndoki” has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing 500 elephants — the longest-ever sentence handed to a poacher in the Republic of Congo.
Thirty-five-year-old Mobanza Mobembo Gerard reportedly led poaching expeditions in Nouabale Ndoki National Park, an internationally protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, resulting in as many as 500 elephant deaths since 2008, according to Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
In addition, Gerard has been convicted of illegal ivory trafficking, possession of military weapons, and the attempted murder of park rangers.
Gerard, who directed a group of around 25 poachers, was arrested in May 2018 after initially escaping a shootout with park officials. While awaiting trial, he escaped and was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison and $9,000 in fines. Authorities finally captured the poacher a year later, following a gunfire exchange that seriously wounded two park rangers.
The newly-imposed 30-year sentence marks the first-ever criminal conviction of a wildlife trafficker in the Republic of Congo, according to WCS Regional Director of Central Africa Dr. Emma Stokes. Environmental crimes were previously handled in civil court, carrying a maximum prison sentence of up to five years.
“We are confident that today’s sentence will serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals that you will serve hard time if you break our wildlife laws and put park rangers and Congo’s national security in danger,” Stokes said.
Lady Freethinker applauds the Republic of Congo authorities for holding Guyvanho criminally responsible for his egregious actions, showing that poaching and wildlife trafficking will not be tolerated in the country.
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This is terrific news, and i hope this will start for all the people who do animals this way.
Jail is not an acceptable form of punishment in these circumstances. As I’ve said before many times, he should be publicly executed and displayed as a warning to others not to follow suit
Naomi has said it all perfectly. And I sincerely hope thirty years actually MEANS thirty years and he doesn’t get parole. Maybe there’ll be a couple of heavyweight vegetarians in a nearby cell……………………
These are atrocities that should carry stiff & rigid sentences! This poacher is an egregious predator who could have killed more elephants. Giving him 30 years is still not enough punishment for the atrocious crimes against so many elephants a total of 500 elephants! He needs to pay for these crimes & must! He can be a sample for others as well! There must be deterrents to these crimes against any & all species! Do not let the animal killers get away! Naomi Semeniuk
30 years isn’t enough time!
30 years without parole!! I hope the Park Rangers are doing well. This poacher is useless to our society. A a trwmpted murder is a serious offense and he needs to be held accountable for murdering 500 plus elephants and attempting to murder several park Eangers.
I HOPE THIS JERK GETS PRODDED WHILE HE IS IN JAIL! I HOPE HE GETS BRUTAL TREATMENT WHILE HE IS IN JAIL. I HOPE THIS JERK NEVER GETS OUT OF JAIL. I HOPE HE ONLY GETS 1 MEAL A DAY WHILE IN JAIL!
FANTASTIC NEWS — JUSTICE — make sure the IDIOT remains inside under watchful eye of Prison — do NOT release the MURDERER — EVER.
Fuck are one completly trash and the poor elphsny deserve a better life without be suffering
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY!!!!
He should have been convicted one year for each elephant killed, or given the death penalty, which would discourage other poachers.
I hope the vile murdering pos dies in there
I hope the vile murdering pos dies in there
Lets all hope he meets a ‘timely’ end whilst he’s in prison……Karma payback for all the innocent, defenseless, voiceless elephants (and rangers) that he has murdered.
30 years without parole!! I hope the Park Rangers are doing well. This poacher is useless to our society.
murder is a serious offense and he needs to be held accountable for murdering 500 plus elephants and attempting to murder several park.
Hope he is beaten to death by Bubba, the elephant lover.
i hope he rots in effing prison
I am happy he went to prison for killing all those elephants !! He needs Prison !!!
Right to life and environment!!!
30 years in jail. Better than not. Hopefully without parole, bond or bail.
Soulless humans! Shameful!
Very good. And I hope this cursed excuse for a human being feels what it is like to be molested by his fellow prisoners every single day of those 30 years.
Thank you for the investigation team and the prosecutors. Please this person, and others like them, incarcerated.
30 YEARS IN PRISON IS NOT ENOUGH. HE MUST NEVER BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF PRISON! HE MUST PAY HEFTY FINES & DO COMMUNITY SERVICE. BUT NEVER BE ABLE TO BE IN CONTACT WITH ANY ANIMAL EVER AGAIN!
Poachers of Elephants, Giraffes, Lions, Tigers, etc., etc., should get the death penalty!!
Prison is too lenient and not enough of a deterent.
Not long enough.
Justice
Justice
GOD HELP US! With prayers and praise, the all mighty creator Lord God please end all suffering and grace save us in Jesus name. AMEN
Not enough jail time for a murderer! Should be a year for every animal slaughtered – the minimum should have been at least 50 years. He is not fit to be called a human. He is an oxygen thief and there should be no mercy shown to a savage.