wo lions killed as poachers strike in game park

Chronicle Reporter
May 21, 2008

TWO lions have been killed in the Gwayi Conservancy as poaching of the felines in the area resurface while a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) ranger is on the run after he was implicated in the poaching of a rhino in Matopo National Park.
Lions were placed on a moratorium a few years ago following concerns over their dwindling population while the rhinoceros are listed as endangered species.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, ZPWMA Public Relations Manager, Retired Major Edward Mbewe, confirmed the poaching of the rhino two weeks ago but said he was yet to receive reports on the illegal hunts of the lions in the Gwayi conservancy.
The poaching of the rhino comes barely a month after the launch of the Save the Rhino Campaign by the authority.
“We are carrying out investigations into the poaching of the rhino in Matopo National Park. Our rangers on patrol discovered a carcass of the rhino while on patrol, leading to the institution of investigations on the matter.
“The investigations have since implicated one of our staff members,†said Rtd Maj Mbewe.
Pressed for more details on the matter, Rtd Major Mbewe said that would prejudice investigations.
On the alleged illegal hunt of the two lions, ZPWMA western regional manager, Mr Tawanda Gotosa said he had dispatched officers to investigate the matter.
“It has come before us that two lions were illegally hunted in Gwayi. At the moment we have sent our officers on the ground to investigate the matter,†Mr Gotosa said.
He said the complaints had come from various stakeholders.
The Lion Research Teams and some safari operators in the conservancy are said to have raised the concern.
Mr Gotosa said although recommendations had been made for a conservative quota on lions to be issued out, it was unprocedural for anyone to hunt down the species without permission from the authority.
“We have been monitoring the lion species. Recommendations have been made for the upliftment of the moratorium, but we are not going to accept a situation where operators go and hunt the species without permission,†he said.
A parks official who spoke on conditions of anonymity said some operators recently made efforts to convince parks to hunt down lions as problem animals.
“Just recently two safari operators who included a senior Government official made representations to hunt down lions as problem animals. How do you hunt a species as a problem animal in a hunting zone,†queried the official.
The official hinted that the alleged illegal hunt of the two lions was a tip of the iceberg.
“There are fears in the industry that such practices could be going on under ground. That is very possible considering the going price of the lion,†said the official.
According to impeccable sources, the illegal hunt is understood to have taken place at one of the Railways farms in the Gwayi Conservancy.
The safari operators are alleged to have hidden the clients from parks officials following the incident, while workers at the property are said to have referred all questions to the property owners.
“From the information at hand those alleged to have been involved in the illegal hunt are said to have charged the clients about US$20 000 for each lion. But the problem at hand is mainly emanating from the fact that people, in the spirit of conservation, had agreed on the moratorium and today you have people who were not there when the agreements were made coming in to hunt the lions,†said a source on condition of anonymity.