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Decimation of Zimbabwe’s wildlife
Wally Herbst - Chairman Wildlife Producers Association
June 13, 2002

It is with a certain degree of sadness that we hold this 16th Annual General meeting.
In 1985, a group of people met under a tree in the Lowveld and discussed the merits of a producer association for wildlife and from there the Association was born. They had this vision of a producer association that was all encompassing of the environment and where there was money to be made from safaris, lodges and wildlife translocation. There was even talk about large buses and aircraft that would ferry hundreds of tourists around commercial farms in air conditioned comfort all being controlled by radio. High ideals and expectations indeed! People went ahead and built luxury safari camps, dotted around the country and now they are mostly in mothballs. Professional Hunter's Licenses were sought, tour operator's licenses obtained and everyone with a 4x4 vehicle, a fox terrier and a rifle was hunting. Wildlife and tourism on commercial farms was on the move. National Parks had created an enabling environment for the production of wildlife, allowing captures and translocation and even exports. To get permits was a pleasure compared to today.

• Between 1991 and 2001 - 39661 wild animals were caught and sold. Total value Z$ 280 million dollars.
• Since the mid 70's to date over 150,000 have been captured and translocated so providing founder populations and the foundation for the Association 's existence.
• In 1995 alone a survey of 351 Members resulted in 250,600 animals being recorded.
• Wildlife as a land use had been established.
• The Association then produced a farm stay brochure listing 36 tourist game ranch and game farm destinations.
• Committees were established to cover disease free Buffalo, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Bow hunting, Venison, Rhino, Domesticated Elephant and export.
• This sector provided the bulk of Zimbabwe's Plains's game hunting.
• Conservation practices had to follow and did.
• Imports and Exports flowed.

In 1999 the Association's outlook could not have been brighter or for that matter of fact Zimbabwe's commercial wildlife sector.

However, the euphoria was short lived. We lost the services of Dr. Nduku and George Pangetti and got the infamous SI 26 of 1998 and immediately permits became a nightmare. Export of wildlife was suspended and the decline in the fortunes of the producer and consequently the WPA started. We sort of limped along for about four years until the farm invasions started and we watched the rapid decline of the fortunes of commercial wildlife operators and the flora and fauna they championed.

It is estimated conservatively that we have lost about 50% of our wildlife, 65% of our tourism in the country and up to 90% safari hunting on commercial farms, and a huge reduction in capture and translocations of wildlife. As for exports, there has been no export for some seven years, although accusations of illegal exports from Settlers and National Parks abound. This is all as a direct result of the so-called fast track resettlement. This is despite the hard efforts of people like Mr. Gatora to try to persuade people to stop poaching and destroying the environment. Well, Sir, I want to tell you now that in spite of your appeals and pleas, there is no let up on the slaughter of our wildlife. Thousands of snares are still being recovered, complete with dead animals still in them. Vehicles continually drive on to commercial farms, with letters from the D A, Rural District Councils, Provincial Wardens and the occupants shoot at will, first for independence celebrations, then to feed the militia and then just to commercialise and capitalise on the lack of the rule of law in the country. We report vehicles poaching to the police complete with Govt registration numbers and they say, "it is political, there is nothing we can do about it". It is a war zone out there and the losers are the wildlife and ultimately we as Zimbabweans. If the rule of law is not restored and poaching stopped NOW we will have to pour money into the Natural History Museum to show our children what wonderful wildlife we used to have. I also hear that the poaching in the National Parks is getting out of control with pressure back on the elephant. We hear in the media of up to thirty Rhinos lost since land invasions started. But no one is saying how many - why? How are we as custodians supposed to support our CITES stance when we daily watch the poaching tally mount. How many pieces of paper with poaching stats must be produced before our Ministry acts. Stats are but history.

Just to highlight the slaughter of our animals we have so diligently managed, let me quote from but two areas and ask the question "What if".

Matabeleland South (Game Ranching)

1. Barberton Ranch - 127 dead animals and 1980 snares collected over 12 months.
   "What if" 30 similar properties suffered similar losses?
2. 33 Ranches surveyed, reported 1900 animals and 13400 snares retrieved over 17 months.
   "What if" 10 similar ranch blocks suffered similar losses?
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Certainly continued poaching reports indicate ongoing and mounting casualties.

Mashonaland West (Game Farming)

1. Maunga Game Farm – Gone
2. Helwyn Game Farm – Gone
3. Momba Game Farm – Going
4. Yawanda Game Farm - Going
   "What if" 150 similar game farms are so affected?
   What are Zimbabwe's game losses - 10,000 - 100,000 - a million animals?
   "What if".

Why has Government and in particular our Ministry and National Parks not stopped or condemned such practices in writing that all law enforcement agencies could have the ability to react positively?

The current Parks initiative to validate losses is commendable but too late to save the hundreds of thousands of dead animals or is it a ploy to regain some credibility or perhaps our statistics sent to Parks are not trusted?

Whatever, our Flora and Fauna continues to suffer whilst the authorities fiddle.

Today, we have to debate an extremely emotional resolution, the possible closure of this association. Let me try to analyse why this might have to be.

The resolution in front of us to day is very real and potentially the death throws of the industry, as we know it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, when you debate this resolution, do not just say the association must continue but tell your Executive how you, the members, propose to fund the association. It is very easy to tell us not to close, but if there are no funds we will have to close. A number of suggestions have already been made, such as amalgamation, downsizing and subscription increase. These all need debate.

It remains for me to thank the staff and particularly John White, for work done under extremely difficult circumstances. How you have managed to continue working for the members under these conditions is an inspiration to all. To my Executives, who work for no reward from WPA, thanks as well. In particular those like Gordon Taylor who have been in from the start. In fact a team, and it does take a team, of dedicated individuals who chartered the way forward for Zimbabwe.

I wish you a fruitful debate.

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