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ZCTF Report - September 2011
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
October 02, 2011

Elephants still under threat at Chiredzi River Conservancy

Further to our August report, the situatio in Chiredzi River Conservancy is worsening.

The Chiredzi River Conservancy, part of the Trans Frontier Conservation Area, is an internationally renowned wildlife conservancy in the Sout Eastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe. It is being overrun by destructive invaders and its elephant and wildlife population is in severe danger of being wiped out. Reports indicate that the destruction of its fragile ecosystem has reached such serious proportions that its very survival is under threat. Appeals for the government to intervene before the destruction of the environment in the conservancy, and in all areas of Zimbabwe becomes irreversible are falling on deaf ears.

The conservancy is situated in an area classified as Region 5, meaning that it is arid and unsuitable for agriculture. Despite this, invaders have destroyed large areas by burning tress and vegetation in their efforts to grow crops and graze their cattle. Although there is funding available to help them move to areas more suitable for farming, the government turns a blind eye to the problem. Game scouts are employed to patrol the area but their jobs are extremely dangerous and they live under constant threat from poachers, politicians and invaders. They are continually assaulted and abused.

In an effort to protect the elephants, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Francis Nhema was approached and asked if the elephants could be moved to a safer area but he was adamant that they stay in the conservancy. Whilst he acknowledged that the invaders were there illegally, he has made no attempt to have them removed.

South Africans hunt buffalo in Kariba

We have received reports recently of South African hunters allegedly being given permission by National Parks to shoot buffalo in the Kariba area - apparently for rations. It is thought that 2 have already been shot and a third is being hunted. The reports say that a buffalo was shot and taken to the weigh bay in the NAU Charara fishing camp where it was skinned. It was then hung in the cold room in the camp - all this apparently with the permission of the Acting Manager of the NAU (National Anglers' Union). The part that doesn't make sense is that normally, when animals are shot for rations, they are taken to Nyanana and not to the NAU fishing camp. We were always under the impression that NAU Charara site was a fishing camp - not a hunting camp. If any tourists were present at the time, they would probably have been quite distressed to see a buffalo being skinned in the weigh bay. The other disturbing factor is that there are only about 32 buffalo left out of an original herd of 650.

We have been given the following names and vehicle registration numbers of some of the people involved:

Hunter: P Uys (RSA)
Zimbabwean Professional Hunter: James McKenzie of James McKenzie Walking Safaris (Kariba).
Vehicles: BVJ - 171 - L and BLB - 048 - L

Poisoning of waterholes

We have received reports of poachers poisoning waterholes in some of the biggest game reserves in the country such as Gonarezhou, Mana Pools, Zambezi, Matusadona, Charara and Hwange. In Hwange National Park, 7 waterholes have allegedly been poisoned. The poison used is known as "Two Step", apparently because the animals that consume it take two steps and then die. This is an extremely serious problem because when an animal dies after consuming the poison, the scavengers that feed off the carcass, such as hyena and vultures, also die. The only way to get rid of the poison would be to drain the water holes and then dig them up and dispose of the soil in an area where it won't be a danger to any animals or humans.

Leopards being shot in Matopos National Park

We have been informed that National Parks have authorized the shooting of leopard in Matopos National Park, a protected wildlife area. It is extremely distressing to note that the guardians of our wildlife appear to be partially responsible for its demise.

Thank you

Thanks you very much to the following people who have assisted us with donations:

Barbara Bowman
Donald Tayloe
Deborah Robertson
John and Helen Buckle
Hugh Atkinson
Liz Grainger
Doria Richardson
Suzanne House
Neil Mansfield
Fiona Pearson
Chris Noon
Catherine Ives

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