Booming elephant population wreaks havoc in Zimbabwe
http://www.thenational.ae/

Thulani Mpofu, Foreign Correspondent

* Last Updated: December 23. 2009 12:05AM UAE / December 22. 2009 8:05PM
GMT

KENNILWORTH // An increasing elephant population is forcing the animals from
wildlife reserves and into greater contact with people, leading to an
economic and environmental crisis in parts of Zimbabwe where some are
calling for greater numbers of the animals to be culled.

The World Wide Fund for Nature and African Wildlife Foundation estimate that
Zimbabwe has 110,000 elephants, above the optimum capacity of between 45,000
and 50,000. For communities living next to the wildlife reserves where the
elephants are flourishing, the increased numbers are proving dangerous,
destroying farmland, driving people from their homes and, at times,
trampling people to death.

In Kennilworth, 90km north of the capital Bulawayo, Relney Nqadini, a
villager, has started planting crops during torrential rains on his plot.
But harvests in this area are dependent not only on how much it rains, but
also whether elephants will spare the villagers' fields.

"In April this year, they ate all my crops, just as I was about to harvest,"
said Mr Nqadini. "Days of labour came to nothing as they [elephants]
destroyed everything we had planted. Even if it rains the way it is doing
now, this is not a guarantee for a good harvest."

The elephants that raid Kennilworth come from the nearby Debshan Ranch and
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest animal sanctuary.

"They raid our fields at night," he said. "So we build bonfires and beat
drums to try to scare them away but they soon get used to the tricks."
Another villager in the area, Luke Mupengesi, said: "Sometimes if we make
fires, they get irritable and attack us, so we flee our homes into the
mountains."

When elephants raid their area, villagers seek help from Bubi rural district
council, the only authority that can kill problem animals in the area. But
often, Mr Mupengesi said, council officials are out of bullets for shooting
the animals or fuel to drive to their hideouts.

The elephant problem in Kennilworth is mirrored in other areas across
Zimbabwe. The elephant population is concentrated in the Hwange, Gonarezhou
and Chizarira national parks, but there are a significant number in private
conservancies.

Morris Mutsambiwa, the director-general of the Parks and Wildlife Management
Authority, said the population is rising by five per cent every year. He
said that due to their increasing numbers, elephants are not only a danger
to the environment, human beings and other wildlife, but to themselves.

I have a revolutionary idea - why not dramatically lower hunting prices/trophy fees for elephant and have a sale? This would be very good for all involved - residents, outfitters, PHs, hunters, suppliers of guns and gear, and the travel and hotel business.
O0ps, sorry, I lost my head and forgot that not all folks are capitalists.

I'm going to help out the "problem" both in March and September!

BTW, prices are lowered for non-trophy elephants to amazingly low amounts. I've taken several for less than $3K fees. You don't get to take home ivory, but you have an amazing experience.

Can you say "450 NE 3 1/4"" ????

I'm also going to help those poor villages from those evil Elephant next April.

I like the idea on the fire sale for eles. I just bought a Searcy 450-400 NE to go with my Merkel .470 NE, and I need to break in the 450-400.

I'll be there next Oct to give the eles a run again!

Wish I could go and shoot the rust out of my double on some big grey targets.

Mike

JudgeG,
Thank you for the tip on prices. I will look into that.