Zimbabwe: $54 Million Jumbo Tusks Recovered


The Herald (Harare)

October 18, 2006

Tawanda Kanhema in Hwange
Harare

TWO suspected poachers were arrested while 22 elephant tusks worth over $54 million were recovered at Chizarira National Park in Gokwe after a group of suspected Zambian poachers killed 11 elephants.

The poachers exchanged gunfire with Zimbabwean security officers and one of them was injured before they fled and left a .303 rifle and an empty magazine.

However, two of them were later apprehended in a subsequent follow-up.

In a related incident, poachers killed and dehorned a rhino at Hwange National Park's Sinamatela section.

The incidents occurred after members of the Wild Life Society conducting game count in Sinamatela alerted parks officials of gunshots in the park, resulting in a manhunt that led to a contact between the poachers and call-up teams comprising Parks rangers and police.

With aerial back-up from a helicopter, the teams managed to track down a group of four poachers suspected to have killed the rhino but failed to arrest them after they crossed into Botswana.

They tracked the poachers' spoor 6km into Botswana before they headed north and faded onto an Island in Zambia.

Parks officials said they have since contacted their counterparts, the Zambia Wildlife Authority.

The poachers reportedly left three elephant tails, fresh game meat and foodstuffs in Namibian packaging papers, leading to suspicions that they were either Namibian or Zambian poachers operating in Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.

"We cannot tell the nationality of the poachers but we suspect that they were foreigners since they fled into Zambia through Botswana," said Parks public relations officer, Retired Major Edward Mbewe.

He said there had been a sharp increase in incidents of poaching in Chizarira and Hwange national parks due to the encroachment of human settlement in wildlife areas.

"Chizarira is a problematic spot because of the border and the communities encroaching into wildlife areas. We suspect that locals have jumped onto the band wagon," he said adding that the authority had launched thorough mop up operations.

He attributed the upsurge in poaching to the erosion of a buffer zone between human settlements and wildlife areas.

Rtd Major Mbewe said ZRP Support Unit and Parks rangers have since established call-up teams from different sections that operate in and around the park.

Groups of poachers from neighbouring countries have been operating in Hwange and Chizarira national parks, from where they cross into Botswana and Zambia.

Zimbabwe and Botswana have Africa's biggest and densest elephant populations with an estimated 210 000 elephants between them and together with South Africa they support part of the continent's only growing elephant population.


Zimbabwe's elephant population is estimated at 89 000, a jump from only 30 000 in 1979.

Most of Zimbabwe's elephants are found in Hwange National Park, which supports the world's densest elephant population.

Hwange National Park drew international attention last year with its high elephant mortality due to severe water shortages resulting from two years of drought but the water situation in the Parks has since improved.

Hell, if 22 tusks are worth over $54 million, I am about ready for a career change to a poacher.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Hell, if 22 tusks are worth over $54 million, I am about ready for a career change to a poacher.

I think that is in Zim dollars. With the way the exchange rate is going is just a few US dollars.

That makes a lot of sense. Always helps to get the currency right!

According to the exchage rate provided by my bank, it's about $215,611.00 US. Not worth the asswhipping I would take from my wife.

I was at Sinamatela the day of the incident with the rhino. I'm sorry to hear the poachers escaped, though I can't say I'm surprised.

Whats the going price for a Tusked elephant hunt?

What is the price per pound of ivory and could it be sold easily to help finance the hunt?

Maybe there is hope for me to hunt Elephant!!