Two suspected poachers are battling for their lives at Salima district Hospital after they were injured in a gun shoot-out with game rangers of Thuma forest reserve in the district.

The two, James Zoye and Wilson Chimangeni together with an accomplice Adoni Chipengo are said to have entered the restricted area of the forest reserve on the morning of Sunday armed with a homemade gun to hunt for game.

Salima Police public relations officer Gift Chitowe said the three were confronted by the rangers after they shot dead a warthog.

Chitowe said the three exchanged fire with park rangers as they resisted arrest.

Zoye sustained head injuries while Chimangeni sustained a wound on the chest and the other escaped before he was apprehended at his village on Monday morning.

Thuma Forest Reserve which borders between Salima, Lilongwe and Dowa districts is home to different kinds of wildlife including elephants and is currently being managed by Wildlife Action Group on behalf of the Government.