https://allafrica.com/stories/201911120104.html

Zimbabwe: Zimparks Moves 600 Jumbos, 2 000 Impalas


12 NOVEMBER 2019

The Herald (Harare)

By Africa Moyo

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has issued permits for the translocation of 600 elephants from Save Valley Conservancy to three national parks at a cost of US$3 million. The translocation will decongest the conservancy whose wildlife population has exceeded its sustainability levels.

Parks also issued permits for the translocation of 2 000 impalas, 50 buffaloes, 40 giraffes, a pack of wild dogs and two prides of lions.

Bomas, the holding places before actual release, have been constructed and systems have already been put in place at the receiving parks to ensure adaptability.

ZimParks spokesman Mr Tinashe Farawo told The Herald yesterday that the elephant herds would be carefully selected by translocation experts and ecologists.

"The elephants and other animals are set to be translocated to Chizarira National Park (in Gokwe), Sapi National Park (a private game park in Mashonaland West near Mana Pools) and Mavuradonha Wilderness Safari Area (a private game park in Mashonaland Central)," he said.



"The animals have exceeded their ecological carrying capacity in Save Valley Conservancy and the authority is working with private players in the industry to translocate the animals.

"It is important to note that the growing number of animals in most parts of the country is a result of good management practices by the authority under Mr (Fulton) Mangwanya and his good work ethic, which has resulted in many stakeholders wanting to work with the wildlife management authority."

Mr Farawo said although the growing animal population in Zimbabwe was not by accident, the development was creating ecological challenges and increased human-wildlife conflict, destruction of the animals' own habitat, leading to death due to starvation.

This comes at a time when elephants are dying in Hwange National Park, due to drought, while some well-wishers like the Sino Zimbabwe Wildlife Foundation have resorted to supplementary feeding, and yet Zimbabwe and many other countries in the region are hamstrung by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) statutes from selling their ivory, whose proceeds they could use in conservation.



On another note, 33 people have been killed in human-wildlife conflicts this year, while over 115 elephants starved to death mainly in Hwange National Park due to climate change-induced drought.

Hwange should handle 14 700 elephants, but it has about 53 000, in what has turned out to be a serious ecological disaster.

"More so, the increased populations of animals especially elephants have a significant impact on the habitat and if the populations go unchecked, the animals will threaten the very ecosystem they depend on for survival.

"Research has shown that best practices for conservation include reducing the numbers through translocations and culling, although the latter has not been practiced for more than 30 years," he said.

Last year, ZimParks and its partners issued 100 permits for the translocation of 100 elephants from Save Valley Conservancy to Rifa in Hurungwe.

The movement of those elephants came at a cost of about US$500 000.

And they will kill a minimum of 15% of the elephants and Impala in the process.

quote:

And they will kill a minimum of 15% of the elephants and Impala in the process.

What percentage will die due to over population

Dave.

The lions for sure need to go. They are pounding the other game.

You can't stockpile living things. Article states that Hwange is already over 350% elephant capacity. So now they are going to SPEND BIG MONEY to transport overpopulated elephants from point A to B in an ele overpopulated country? This pretty much defines 'pissing into the wind.'

They should GIVE (as in FOR FREE) stacks and stacks of management/cull elephant permits to hunting outfitters. Then hunters can come for multiple non-trophy ele for just the daily rates. Set up a gov't operation to recover and SELL the meat. Meat that is too difficult to recover is given to the locals. Actually MAKE MONEY with the excess elephants. CREATE JOBS with the excess elephants. That probably just makes too much sense to ever happen...

Baker - yep. sounds about right to me.

In fairness to Parks the game is getting moved from the Save which due to great management is over stocked especially with the present drought.

The game will be going to 3 National Parks that due to various reasons can certainly do with bolstering the animal numbers. All 3 of these National parks are now in joint ventures with Parks and private entities such as African Parks and as a result I do feel that the game will prosper- so in short I feel its a very positive thing!

Interesting stuff. Anyone know what % of loss they might see during the operation?

quote:

Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
In fairness to Parks the game is getting moved from the Save which due to great management is over stocked especially with the present drought.

The game will be going to 3 National Parks that due to various reasons can certainly do with bolstering the animal numbers. All 3 of these National parks are now in joint ventures with Parks and private entities such as African Parks and as a result I do feel that the game will prosper- so in short I feel its a very positive thing!

I agree Buzz.

It sounds like some rains have come?

It's a sad day when Chizarira is depopulated .. letting settlements get too close is a big part of that problem.

But yes, I am all for relocation if it is backed up by anti-poaching. Otherwise you are just restocking the poacher's killing grounds for them.

Thanks for that info, Buzz. I was not aware that there were parks in Zim that could use more Elephants. I just always hear about the country overall being heavily overpopulated.

Agreed Buzz
Good to see you at the Save Rhino round up in August.
Regards
Stu

I hunted the save in 2010 and you could see the heavy destruction of trees in places by the elephants. There was so much game it was tracked up like a cow pasture in places. My ph counted a herd of buff to be 273 head as they single and double filed through a dry gully 50 yards from us. We saw dagga boys four different times and they were either running or standing very alert and nervous as if they had just escaped some lions and it wasn't us that spooked them. I lucked out and got a first day bull in the afternoon when one group had finally settled down after being spotted twice that morning.

I'd have to see the science behind that.

quote:

Originally posted by Opus1:
And they will kill a minimum of 15% of the elephants and Impala in the process.

Hi Guys,

This is directly from our Conservation manager Steven about the Relocation. If you ahve any questions, please feel free to send me an email and I can keep you posted on the happenings.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Save Valley Conservancy, Translocation of Wildlife.

Following a statement by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) the Save Valley Conservancy issues the following statement.

The conservation success story of the Save Valley Conservancy (SVC) in the south east of Zimbabwe is truly a beacon of light for the long term. The SVC has been called “The Gold Standard of Conservation” by American NGO’s for good reason. Sustainable livelihood of the Big Five as well as numerous plains game and other predator species living in the pristine, unspoiled protected area, that is the Save Valley Conservancy. The Save Valley Conservancy, once a series of cattle ranches, has over the last three decades proved that the business model of conservation based on sustainable use can work, so much so that the conservancy today has an overabundance of species and is able to be seen a source population for the re- populating or augmentation of several species in Zimparks estates.

To this end the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has recently issued permits for the translocation of up to 600 elephant to various destinations within Zimbabwe. A selection of plains game and other species has also been earmarked for translocation to release pressure on grazing and browsing in the Save Valley. The Conservancy would like to commend the Zimbabwe Department of National Parks in their progressive outlook with regards to the sustainable management of their wildlife resources.

The translocation is proposed to take place in 2020/21 following the engagement of relevant stakeholders, ecologists and supporters to ensure that the destination landscapes are ecologically capable of sustaining the new wildlife and that the adequate protective and management measures are in place.

The SVC is working closely in the initial planning stages of the project with the donors, ecologists, capture specialists and stakeholders to ensure the sustainability and success of the proposed translocation.

The Save Valley Conservancy has engaged with The Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance to assist with several aspects of this translocation and we are very grateful to the Cabela Family Foundation for underwriting 100% of this this translocation as a commitment to the conservation of key species and ecosystems in Africa. The Conservancy is proud to be associated with ZimParks in this proposed project which is of vital importance to conservation in Zimbabwe.

The SVC is looking forward to a successful partnership with Zimparks in ensuring the safe completion of the translocation. There are some areas in Zimbabwe that over the years have suffered wildlife losses due to illegal poaching and human wildlife conflict. With renewed commitment from Zimparks and its associated partners, stronger anti-poaching measures are now in place in these areas alongside safe boundary management and the SVC is assured that the animals will be able to flourish in their new homes.

To this end the SVC is proud to be able to prove that sustainable use of wildlife does indeed create excess animals, which can in turn be used to repopulated National Parks and related wildlife areas.

To date the Save Valley remains a prime destination. Good rains in the Lowveld region have ensured Save Valley has flowing rivers and adequate forage and feed for the abundant wildlife. The translocation proposal is there as a management tool to ensure that the Save Valley remains one of the last large-scale pristine wildlife areas on the planet. And it will assist other areas in Zimbabwe that are capable of sustaining wildlife long term where their populations have been diminished.

Any press enquiries should be directed to the SVC COO Steven Vos.



Hope this sheds some light for you all.

I have to say good show on the part of the Cabela family. I hope all goes smoothly and that the money goes where it's supposed to go, with minimal leakage.