Report highlights plight of Zimbabwe's wildlife


18 October 2006 05:26

A new, independent report depicts emptying nature reserves staffed by ill-disciplined, poorly equipped rangers cruelly killing the animals they were meant to protect. Wildlife has become another victim of Zimbabwe's economic chaos.

In one example in the report by the Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce, rangers pumped at least 40 bullets into a suspected rogue elephant as it encroached on a settlement in remote north-western Zimbabwe. The rangers used AK47s, preferred for close quarter infantry combat, while heavier firepower might have meant a more humane death.

A witness told the taskforce that the elephant appeared to have been "kneecapped" in the first bursts of fire after it crushed an unoccupied telephone booth. Several minutes and at least 40 shots later, a single heavy calibre shot was heard. The meat was sold to locals, the taskforce said.

Another elephant was shot 16 times.

Both were shot in full view of "disgusted and heartbroken" tourists, some of whom vowed not to return to Zimbabwe, the conservation group said in the report released on Tuesday.

"On the one hand, Zimbabwe is trying to promote tourism, and on the other it is destroying any chances of reviving it," said the taskforce in its latest monthly report.

No comment was immediately available from wildlife officials.

In total, at least five elephants in recent weeks were shot by rangers looking for a rogue elephant that killed a safari park caretaker in the Chirundu district, in the Zambezi river valley, on the border with neighbouring Zambia, 300km north-west of Harare, it said.

One witness complained to the taskforce that four years ago the Zambezi river flood plain teemed with animals.

"Today you are lucky to see an impala [African antelope] down there over a week-long period," the report quoted the witness as saying. The impala is one of Zimbabwe's most widespread and prolific animal species.

It said that in the flagship 14 000-square kilometre Hwange National Park, the population of lions was down from a natural level of more than 2 000 in recent years to 18 males and about 200 females.

The report revived criticism of the state wildlife authority, accused of indiscipline in its ranks -- with some disgruntled and underpaid rangers profiteering on meat and illegal ivory -- and of lacking suitable calibre weapons, ammunition and other equipment.

The National Parks and Wildlife Authority allows its rangers and staffers in bush areas to shoot a small "meat quota" for themselves, and sometimes supply surplus meat to villagers bordering reserves to discourage poaching.

Visitors to the state-run Chivero conservancy, 30km west of Harare, this week reported seeing no wildebeest, an ox-like gnu, and were told by rangers most of the herd was shot for "ration meat".

Like most government departments, the parks authority has suffered from the effects of the nation's worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980. Acute shortages of hard currency, gasoline, equipment and spare parts have brought some of its operations, including some anti-poaching patrols, to a near standstill.

Its revenues have been hit by a sharp decline in foreign tourism in five years of political and economic turmoil.

In Hwange National Park, the nation's biggest animal reserve, only donations of fuel, as well as work by the taskforce and its volunteers, have kept 34 of 53 long-established artificial watering holes, known as pans, supplied with water from wells equipped with gasoline-fuelled pumps.

The taskforce of volunteers and donors said it recently bought 16 new pumps and provided spare parts for others. The watering holes were created as a conservation measure in the colonial era in strategic dry areas of the park in efforts to attract wild animals -- and tourists -- away from natural water sources where an overpopulation of animals was destroying their habitat.

The taskforce alleged hunting concessions, controlled largely by members of the ruling party elite, were spilling inside the park's boundaries, where ancient teak, redwood and mukwa trees were also being commercially felled in violation of conservation laws. -- Sapa-AP

Kathi:

On my recent hunt in Zim (Omay..on Lake Kariba)my PH told me he gives the area 5 years tops....poaching by both the villagers and, in some cases, Zambians due to the closeness of the border, were wrecking havoc on the game population....ALL game. I was in the area 6 days after leaving SA and saw VERY little game. A few Kudu, a few impala and some warthogs...that was about it.
It's sad...I'd love to back in '08 for another buff and Mr. Spots....but I'll be checking on the continuing deterioration prior to booking.

Thanks for posting the info.

Gary

I'd be interested in hearing Ganyana's comments on this report. Is it "greenie" propaganda or a true reflection on what is happening?


***

I agree with GarBy on the comments on the communual lands in Omay for hunting. The plains game numbers are very low, I don't know if I saw a single trophy animal there. I wasn't hunting plains game luckily.

Buffalo appear to be getting harder and harder to find decent mature bulls.

Elephant are said to be present in reasonably huntable numbers.

If I was going back I would as a preference avoid communual lands.