I'm having a discussion with someone non/anti hunters and need some info. Does anyone know what the wildlife population trends are in recent times on hunting areas in Zimbabwe? Overall trends? Certain species trends? Area to area trends? Any articles or research to back this up would be appreciated.

Example: Everything increasing, everything decreasing, everything stable, some up some down, depends from area to area and animal to animal.

Brett,

This any good to you?

http://www.shakariconnection.c...m-sport-hunting.html

Thanks Steve, but I need more Zimbabwe specific info. Anyone?

Brett,

Don Heath or Ganyana would be the best guys to help you there but my guess is the game populations would have been hammered in some areas over recent (ish) times and therefore possibly not good examples for your needs.

Brett,

Steve is right - Ganyana would be the guy to talk to. I don't have any articles or research to back me up, but I am familiar with quite a number of hunting areas in this country, and so I shall just give you my 2 cents. I think it is definitely a case of different situations for different areas and species. Some areas have been hammered in recent times, whilst others have remained relatively unscathed. Actually, I wouldn't say any area has remained unscathed, but some guys have retained more control than others. I think that many Parks (safari) areas have been pounded by both poaching and over the top quotas, and the quota issue is where the species factor comes in. Certain areas I know of have plenty of everything including lions and elephants, but there is a serious shortage of decent elephant bulls and mature male lions...What does this tell us - ele bull and male lion quotas are too high. Don't need a degree to work that one out. Having said this, certain safari areas still offer excellent hunting for all species, and in those areas populations of all species seem as stable as ever before. Private land that has not been wholly taken over has fared okay and one or two areas like the Save Conservancy still maintain very healthy game populations and offer quality hunting. As well as poaching, animals in the Save have also had to contend with anthrax and foot and mouth the past few years, and certain species took more of a knock than others, obviously. The same can be said for the poaching toll - certain animals are easier to poach than others. Blah, blah, I'm sure this was no help and it is just a layman's view, wish I could help more. Guess you'll just have to wait for Ganyana to get online!

Cheers, Dave

Brett

I dont know the (main reason/s) for your interest, or if you want accurate or ballpark info.

It is my belief that you would get (quite different stories) from differnt folks or organisation dependant upon their personal interest and/or local knowledge gathering methods.

Politically motovated people such as Cath Buckle would probably say (wildlife has been devestated) which may be the case in some areas, others would say it is not too bad, and all in fact is ticking along nicely.

National Parks and quasi government bodies would not want to paint toooooo bleak a picture, that is unless they want FREE Doner money

I dont wish to be negative, but I would be surprised if (anyone knows with any great accuracy) what the true situation is in Zim's at this time in light of what has been going on in recent months/years

BUT having said that, apart from those two good local individuals already mentioned in the thread, I would have thought that (Mrs. Sally Brown) the Administrative Officer for ZATSO was a good referance point to start with, seeing she (in the past at least) was one of the main coordinators for hunting safaris and operators within the country.

Also the well know George Pangeti (ZIM Parks & hunting representitive) whom vists SCI periodically would have his story to tell.

Anyhow, here is a site that might assist and be a (starting point) for formal information !!

SOAZ

Zimbabwe Park & Wildlife

Cheers, Peter