Conservancies losing Rhino
The Zimbabwean

(25-04-07)
In the last two weeks two Rhino have been poached in the Save Conservancy
which is located in the Lowveld of Zimbabwe. This now brings the known
poached Rhino to 10 since 2000.

The Save Conservancy like all game areas have suffered incredible looses of
wildlife since the deterioration of Law and Order even though protection
units were increased at huge costs to the partners.

National parks have allowed some Zimbabwean Safari outfits who had no
scruples to hunt in the protected areas of the National Parks; these were
not isolated incidences as further reports have been coming in. There have
also been several reports of tourists hearing shots fired in the protected
areas and then just afterwards seeing parks vehicles with meat in them. One
report that I received was of the shooting of a large tusked elephant bull
near Chipinda Pools for a celebration party for the opening of a new road on
the North bank of the Lundi river.

Some experts have indicated that we have lost at least 75% of our wildlife
already with most damage being done on the ranches and farms that the owners
were forced off by the Zimbabwe Government driven land grab.

There is no doubt that Zimbabwe is in danger of loosing all its remaining
Rhino and risks serious damage to other species of wildlife unless there is
a democratic change soon and a new governing body is installed.