Harare — A Zambian poacher was shot and killed while three others were arrested after a gun battle with National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers at Charara National Park near Sanyati Gorge on Monday evening.

Parks also recovered a motorised boat, an AK47 rifle, 300 rounds of ammunition and 365 kilogrammes of elephant meat from the poachers.

On Wednesday, Parks director-general Dr Morris Mutsambiwa said Billy Kanwell (30) of Kangelele Village, Siavonga in Zambia was killed at Sanyati Gorge by Parks rangers at around 7pm.

"Three of his accomplices, Amonga Daniel (35), Victor Sibangwe (32) and Robert Musonda Mwenda (24) all of Siavonga in Zambia were captured and arrested.

"Two Parks rangers, stationed at Charara Safari Area and Tashinga National Parks were on patrol when they came across an elephant carcass which was fairly fresh.

"They carried out general patrols around the vicinity of the carcass but they failed to locate the poachers. They then laid an ambush near the carcass and at about 7pm they heard a motorised boat approaching and four people disembarked from the boat and headed straight to the place where the elephant carcass was," said Dr Mutsambiwa. He said the unsuspecting poachers were ordered to surrender but refused and even fired at the rangers.

"One of the poachers was armed with an AK47 rifle. The rangers then challenged the poachers to surrender but when they resisted, they opened fire, killing Kanwell instantly. The other poachers then succumbed to pressure from the firepower and surrendered," he said.