A PH friend of mine from Zim sent this to me.

Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:55 AM
Subject: NO ELEPHANT HUNTING FOR 20 YEARS


Dear Members

GALA DINNER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NATIONAL PARKS TO SEND STRONG DELEGATION TO CITES JUNE 2007
A reminder that all members with a long-term interest in elephant hunting in Zimbabwe, should urgently consider attending this Gala Dinner to be held on Tuesday 8th May at the Rainbow Towers Hotel (formerly the Sheraton) at 19.00 hrs. Dr. Gideon Gono will be the Guest of Honour .

Kenya and Mali have tabled a proposal that in effect will stop elephant hunting in Zimbabwe for 20 years!!!! We have to make every effort to assist in stopping this from going through.

Tables are for ten people and cost $15 000 000, but if you can't raise ten people, just make up a party or go as a couple at a cost of $1 500 000 per head. It may seem a lot for a dinner - but its much cheaper than not having elephant hunting for 20 years. Big Operators in particular please take note and give support where you can. Smaller operators or those who cannot attend are encouraged to make a donation to Parks.

FOR DINNER BOOKINGS E-MAIL ME, SALLY BOWN, ON soaz@mweb.co.zw.
Our phone is out so if you need to phone use 708870 or 705046

ledvm, is that in Zim dollars or US dollars? That would be a lot if in US dollars, but in current Zim; what, $150.00 per couple?

I think someone has misunderstood the proposal. As I understand it, the proposal is to stop any Government selling their own stocks of ivory to the industrial market and it does not refer to the sport hunting of Elephants or the transport of sport hunted ivory.

Some Governments applied for and got permission to sell some of their stocks last year and have also applied for permission to do a similar thing this year. As I understand it, this proposal by Kenya and Mali is to counter the sales........ but of course, this is Africa and I could be wrong.

Perhaps Ganyana might comment on this one as he's probably the one best qualified to do so.

I think it is Zim dollars. I don't know about the answer to the sport hunting versus government ivory sales but the sport hunting community of Zim is who is circulating this email.

I asked my Zim PH friend about whether the ban involved sport hunting or not and here is what he said:

"The proposal is to stop any Government from selling their own stocks of ivory to the industrial market and it does not refer to the sport hunting of Elephants or the transport of sport hunted ivory. But we belive that this will be a foot in the door that will eventually lead to a complete ban on sport hunted elephant as well. Just like in the USA, the attempted introduction of all sorts of firearm restricting laws, one leads to another."