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Wildlife statistics
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
July 01, 2007

Since 2001, we have been collecting information from private game ranches around Zimbabwe. The information we have been endeavouring to obtain from individual game farms is:-

1. Wildlife populations prior to the land invasions, broken down into species.
2. Number of animals killed during land invasions, broken down into species.
3. Last known populations.
4. Number of snares recovered.
5. Length of fencing stolen.

The figures we have used are actual figures supplied to us by 62 game farmers over the past 7 years. The difficulties we have faced in attempting to collate these figures are:-

1. Many of the farmers have left the country. Some of them gave us statistics in 2002, for example and we are not able to contact them in order to update their figures. It could be assumed that as they have left the country, having lost their ranches to the land reform exercise, there would be no animals left on their farms, however, we have not assumed this. We have used the last figures they gave us, in the absence of any up to date data being available.
2. Of the 62 farms, only 17 were able to give us complete information.
3. Some of the farmers knew how many animals they have now, but not how many they started with.
4. Other farmers only knew how many animals had been slaughtered but not how many there were prior to 2001 or how many are left now.

Of the 62 farms studied, 59 reported wildlife losses totalling 42 236, broken down into species as follows:

Aardwolf 17
Black rhino 75
Blesbok 3
Buffalo 43
Bushbuck 291
Bushpig 631
Caracal 7
Cheetah 18
Civet cat 100
Duiker 1 363
Eland 1 908
Elephant 9
Giraffe 466
Grysbok 27
Hippo 9
Impala 9 562
Jackal 449
Klipspringer 126
Kudu 4 969
Leopard 39
Lion 16
Lioness 15
Nyala 69
Oribi 12
Ostrich 52
Python 49
Reedbuck 982
Sable 567
Steenbok 1 236
Tssessebee 1 532
Waterbuck 244
Warthog 6 762
Wild dog 15
Wildebeeste 1 959
Zebra 997
Unspecified 7 617

33 of the 62 farms reported removing a total of 155 204 snares.

8 of the 62 farms reported a total of 931km of fencing stolen to make wire snares.

This is not to say that the other farms didn't find snares or have any fencing stolen. All of them reported finding snares and having fencing stolen but many of them didn't keep records.

In order to estimate the percentage of wildlife lost on private game ranches, we chose 17 of the 62 farms studied. We chose the farms that had kept proper records and supplied us with the most up to date statistics.In the cases where the last information received was in 2002 or 2003, we used the statistics only when most of the wildlife had been wiped out by then because if we had been able to obtain more recent figures, they would have been much the same at best. We based the estimations on the fact that we believe there were 620 private game farms prior to the land invasions and according to our records, there are only 14 left today.

The total population of wildlife on the 17 farms prior to the land invasions was 16 772, an average of 986 animals per farm. If this figure is extrapolated out to 620 farms, we estimate that there were 611 320 animals on private game ranches prior to the land reform.

The total number of animals lost on the 17 farms between 2000 and 2007 was 15 704, an average of 923 animals per farm. If there are only 14 game farms left, it can reasonably be assumed that the 606 game farms that were confiscated suffered heavy losses. If the average loss figure is extrapolated out to 606 farms, we estimate that the total losses amount to 559 338 animals. This is a loss of 91% on private game ranches only.

We took conservancies separately, over and above the private game ranches. According to our records, there were 15 conservancies prior to the land reform and now, the only one left of any consequence is Save Valley Conservancy.

We obtained the following information regarding wildlife losses on conservancies:

1. Debshan Estates had 17 394 animals in 2002. By Dec. 2002, they had lost 8955, a percentage of 51. We have had no figures from them since 2002.
2. Gourlays Ranch had 6 348 animals in 2000 and by Dec. 2006, they had lost 6050, a percentage of 95. Amongst the animals slaughtered were 24 black rhino.
3. Gwaai Valley Conservancy reported a loss of 80% of their wildlife by June 2002.
4. Chipizi Ranch reported 100% loss by 2003.
5. Bembezi Safaris reported 100% loss.
6. Save Conservancy had 13370 animals in 2000 and by June 2002, they had lost 4 718, a percentage of 35.

In the absence of further information, we based our estimates on these 6 conservancies. The average percentage of animals lost is 76.

The average percentage of wildife lost on the private game ranches and conservancies together is therefore estimated to be 83.

We have not been able to obtain figures on animals lost in National Parks so if we conservatively estimate that only 10% has been lost, this brings the loss over the whole country to 59%. In view of the fact that since the collapse of the economy, National Parks has not been in a position to carry out anti poaching patrols effectively, we don't believe that 10% is an unreasonable estimation.

Although the wildlife is still fairly abundant in Hwange National Park and Mana Pools, we receive regular reports from tourists that they are very lucky to spot any game in Gonarezhou and Chisarira.

Likewise, the Umfurudzi Wilderness had wildlife in abundance prior to the land invasions but it has almost been totally eradicated now by poachers.

We are not claiming to "know" how much wildlife has been lost. We have just tried to make the most accurate estimate possible with very limited data to work with. If anyone has reason to believe we have overestimated the losses, we would be very grateful for further information so we can update or correct our records.

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