oachers-kill-20-rhinos-&catid=32&Itemid=34" target="_blank">Armed poaching syndicates have killed 20 rhinos in Zimbabwe so far this year


HARARE -- Armed poaching syndicates have stepped up activities in the southern African region killing 20 rhinos in Zimbabwe so far this year despite increased operations to curb illegal hunting, National Parks and Wildlife Management director Vitalis Chadenga said last week.

Chadenga said poaching gangs – that killed 42 rhinos last year -- were most active in Zimbabwe and neighbouring South Africa, which are among four countries in the world that still have significant populations of rhinos. The other two are Kenya and Namibia.

“Rhino poaching has become a region-wide problem, with poachers targeting South Africa, Zimbabwe and other southern African countries,” said Chadenga, who added that poachers have become more sophisticated over the years, and were in some cases using aircraft to hunt animals.

He said his department has intensified patrols to curb poaching, while also calling for regional governments to coordinate anti-poaching operations to ensure success

Rhinos are mainly poached for their horns that are suspected to have aphrodisiac and medicinal qualities that include curing cancer, fevers and enhancing sexual drive. The main markets for rhino horns are in Asia.

Chadenga’s department that is in charge of wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe has found it hard to contain poaching in national parks especially after landless villagers began invading – with the government’s tacit approval – white-owned farms and game conservancies 10 years ago.

There have also been widespread reports of illegal and uncontrolled trophy hunting on former white-owned conservancies now controlled by powerful government officials and members of President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) party.

The government however denies that politicians are illegally hunting game and insists it still has poaching under control.


Cheer,

~ Alan