https://www.zimbabwesituation....nt-population-drops/



Zim elephant population drops

March 5, 2019 1:07 PM
Source: Zim elephant population drops | Daily News



Zimbabwe’s elephant population has declined by 10 percent over the last eight years, the Zambezi Elephant Fund (Zef) has said.
In a statement released last week to mark World Wildlife Day, Zef, which was formed in 2015 to actively address poaching in the Zambezi Valley, said elephants were now under increased threat.

“Zimbabwe is home to the world’s second largest population of African Elephant, and yet overall Zimbabwe’s elephant population has declined by 10 percent since the 2011 Great Elephant Census.
In the Zambezi Valley, African Elephants, amongst other species are under serious threat from poaching and over the past 13 years, 60 percent of the elephants in the Zambezi Valley have been lost,” read part of the statement.

Zef, which works collaboratively with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, NGOs and the private sector in the fight against elephant poaching, added that it remained committed to collaborating with other anti-poaching organisations.


“We at Zef reaffirm our commitment to working with the local authorities, as well as a collaborative group of implementing partners, to ensure the long-term protection and preservation of the Zambezi Valley, its habitats and its wildlife.

“Given their significance — not only as a keystone species to the survival and biodiversity of Africa’s ecosystems, but also as a major tourism attraction, it is vital that we as a nation step forward to ensure the protection of these intelligent creatures,” said Zef.

Though Zef is happy with what it has accomplished since it was established, it called on all those committed wild life preservation to partner with it in the fight against poachers. “In just three years Zef has made a real difference, supporting the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and reinforcing the efforts of several on the ground implementing partner organisations.

“Zef has, in collaboration with our partners, built an anti-poaching reaction ranger base, conducted multiple aerial surveys, supplied equipment and rations, trained rangers and held collaborative workshops.


“There is, however, more that we are doing, and still so much more we can do and for this we need your help,” said the elephant protection group whose coordinator is Richard Maasdorp.

Sad to see

They still fail to state the obvious. In spite of this decline, Zimbabwe’s elephant population is above the carrying capacity of the land. It is far greater than it was 100 years ago.

Yes, poaching is a concern but is not the end of the world.

I agree Larry. Vast amounts of the Save valley look like I went around with a crew of dozers and leveled everything. The mopane in certain parts of Sango in particular is devastating to see it now compared to what it once was.

From the Zambezi Elephant Fund Facebook page:

quote:

There is an article circulating regarding a "statement" made by Zambezi Elephant Fund headlined as "Zimbabwe Elephant Population numbers drop". We would like to confirm that in support of #WorldWildlifeDay we had paid the media outlet for advertising space with an editorial commentary which was to be printed alongside it - to create awareness of elephants and the positive work being done by Zambezi Elephant Fund in collaboration with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management as well as other implementing partners.

We would like to confirm that at no such time was a "statement" issued focusing on elephant numbers dropping, and whilst statistics were included from a past survey, unfortunately parts of the full editorial commentary (to create awareness and garner support) were extracted claiming a statement had been issued on elephant populations dropping.

We believe this has created unnecessary alarm and a misleading view of the current situation in the Zambezi Valley where in fact and to the contrary, the efforts of Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, with collaborative backup efforts of conservation support organisations indicate a strong downward trend in poaching over the period 2017 to date across the Lower Zambezi Valley.

It is our humble opinion that the positive impact of the concerted collaborative effort to combat elephant poaching could be a new benchmark.

We kindly request all those who have shared the post to remove the link and refrain from sharing whilst we liaise with the media house directly. Thank you

Who counted them?

quote:

Originally posted by Dutch44:
Who counted them?

Mike Chase

quote:

Originally posted by Dieseltrucker:
I agree Larry. Vast amounts of the Save valley look like I went around with a crew of dozers and leveled everything. The mopane in certain parts of Sango in particular is devastating to see it now compared to what it once was.

My last trip to the Save was 2012. The devastation was evident then.

In Zimbabwe there are a plethora of NGOs working on various conservation projects. Zimbabwe Elephant Fund is one voice. The passage above from Bill C was originally from Wild Zambezi I believe, and hats off to ZEF for putting it up. It is a balanced assessment.

I believe it is a mistake for any NGO to publish information like this unless their methods and data are available for all to see and there has been a peer review.

If population of ele in Zim is ok, why I hear more and more about ele hunting by sitting on water point during the night? For example in Tcholocho they don’t even try to stalk, they wait elephants from the blind. Why? I think it’s because there is no ele on public areas, only in national park.
The same situation in Mahenye area. No ele on public areas, only chasing eles coming from park by mistake.

quote:

Originally posted by Roman BGH:
If population of ele in Zim is ok, why I hear more and more about ele hunting by sitting on water point during the night? For example in Tcholocho they don’t even try to stalk, they wait elephants from the blind. Why? I think it’s because there is no ele on public areas, only in national park.
The same situation in Mahenye area. No ele on public areas, only chasing eles coming from park by mistake.

A little research will tell you the population in Zimbabwe overall is far above its carrrying capacity.

As for the specific areas you mentioned, there is a simple answer. They are communal lands overrun with people during the day. The elephants do not want to be around all the people during the day.

Thank You Larry Shores

for saying that out loud !!!

hear rumors on the grapevine that botswana has a 50,000 cull ahead of em

seems a few el to cull but no doubt they are way behind

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

A little research will tell you the population in Zimbabwe overall is far above its carrrying capacity.

As for the specific areas you mentioned, there is a simple answer. They are communal lands overrun with people during the day. The elephants do not want to be around all the people during the day.

I hope you are right.

I have hunted both.

I have hunted Tsolotjo north extensively and can assure u you have to walk.... sometimes more than u would like. Carrying capacity in Hwange has being overpassed long time ago.

quote:

Originally posted by stradling:
Thank You Larry Shores

for saying that out loud !!!

hear rumors on the grapevine that botswana has a 50,000 cull ahead of em

seems a few el to cull but no doubt they are way behind

I don't know if that will happen. Maybe over 10 years?

quote:

Originally posted by dwarf416:
I have hunted Tsolotjo north extensively and can assure u you have to walk.... sometimes more than u would like. Carrying capacity in Hwange has being overpassed long time ago.

The last one I shot there was tracked 17 miles before we shot it.

There are some hunted at night around the water holes.