quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
a bull with tusks over 3m long, weighing 107 and 126lbs was shot in Hwange park under the guise of a cull hunt, by an operator from Bulawayo.

quote:

From: SOAZ [mailto:soaz@mweb.co.zw]
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 2:46 AM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: SUSPENSION OF ELEPHANT RATION/MANAGEMENT HUNTS IN NATIONAL PARKS

Dear Members,

SUSPENSION OF ELEPHANT RATION AND MANAGEMENT HUNTS IN NATIONAL PARKS

The SOAZ Chairman and Committee are pleased to be able to forward to you the attached report from Dr. Mtsasmbiwa suspending the current elephant hunting in National Parks, particularly Hwange.

However, as you will note, Parks feel that some way forward must be found to continue with the original purposes of this programme so as to maximise the financial returns to Parks from the Ration and Management quotas. The economic times are difficult for everyone, including Parks. They will review the methods utilised to conduct this programme. These were being badly abused by the participants.

Any member with constructive suggestions should submit these to SOAZ and/or Dr. Mtsambiwa at National Parks.

Please note that National Parks are also encouraging the public and stakeholders to report incidents of abuse/poaching/malpractice within the Parks. But please ensure you can give them FACTS - registration number and make of vehicle, photos, date, time, place, names, etc.

We must congratulate our members for the concerted effort many made to obtain the facts and photos required for the National Parks Board and Committee to make a decision.

Well done.

Yours sincerely

Sally Bown
SOAZ

SEE TOMORROW IN YOUR MIND'S EYE - NOT THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
VISIT ZIMBABWE FOR WORLD CUP SOCCER 2010

Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe
Inbound Tour Operators of Zimbabwe Association
Zimbabwe Professional Hunters & Guides Association

--------------------------------------------

Elephant Conservation In Zimbabwe

Introduction
Elephant conservation remains one of Zimbabwe’s main success stories. Of late due to reason beyond our comprehension this conservation initiative is under spotlight with varied opinions being expressed. This is manifesting itself in form of various misconceptions about the state of elephant conservation in Zimbabwe, including accusations of staff involvement in poaching.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority therefore wishes to set the record straight by informing our valued stakeholders of the elephant management programmes on the ground to hopefully stop all the misinformation that is doing the rounds.

Elephant Population Status
The current national population is about 100,000 with an average growth rate of 5% and of this Hwange National Park and its environs alone hold about 50,000 while Mid-Zambezi Valley, Sebungwe and the South East Lowveld hold 30,000, 15,000 and 5,000 respectively. These figures are based on aerial surveys undertaken jointly by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Utilization: non consumptive and consumptive
There are two programmes for the sustainable utilization of elephants in the country : (i) non-consumptive (photographic, elephant rides) and (ii) consumptive (trophy hunting and management off-take). Consumptive utilization is all based on an approved quota with the exception of problem animal control which is responsive to rogue animals whose numbers annually cannot be predicted.

There is also a deliberate policy to carry out these programmes i.e. consumptive and non consumptive, in isolation of each other recognizing the different clientele ethics involved.
Trophy hunting which annually utilises 500 animals that are declared to CITES each year as 1000 tusks to allow for exportation of trophies takes place in designated places as follows:
• State hunting safari areas 145 animals
• Private land mainly conservancies 115 animals
• CAMPFIRE in communal areas 210 animals and
• Forestry areas 30 animals
No trophy hunting takes place in National Parks which include Hwange, Gonarezhou, Chizarira, Mana Pools, Matusadona, Kazuma Pan, Zambezi where elephants are found.

The management off take, unlike trophy hunting, takes place in any protected area where elephants occur including the national parks stated above and involves both trophy and non trophy animals but the trophies are not for export in any way. The ivory from such an initiative ends up in central ivory stores at the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Head Quarters properly recorded with a distinct serial number, area of origin, cause and date of mortality and size (length and weight). In order not to change the population structure (age and sex) management off takes are not selective such that trophy animals are also taken but as stated above their ivory is not for export in its raw form. It is sold on the domestic market through regular auctions to registered ivory manufacturers in line with 1997 CITES COP 10 Resolution which allowed Zimbabwe to engage in highly controlled domestic ivory trade.

Management off takes are for ecological reasons to manage surplus animals since elephants at very high densities as is our situation have a high propensity to destroy the very habitat that is the basis for their survival. As they destroy the habitat they also pose serious loss of other biodiversity.

At the moment in Zimbabwe the management off take is utilised for training, staff rations, support for state and other functions, sale to crocodile farmers and where possible live sales for restocking. Meat is also sold cheaply or given freely to communities to supplement their protein requirements.

The management off take involves an approved quota country wide of 1000 animals representing approximately 1% of the population as compared to the 5% annual growth rate stated above. This implies that this off take has no effect whatsoever on the elephant population. Moreover over the years we have never harvested even half of the approved quota.

In April 2007 prior to CITES COP 14 in The Hague SADC Ministers responsible for Wildlife Management approved the Southern Africa Elephant Management Strategy which recognises culling as one of the main tools for effective population control. However, in the event that the Authority needs to undertake culling, all the political, ecological and other considerations including thorough stakeholder consultations would have been met.

At the moment and in preparation for a possible requirement to control elephant population through culling the Authority has embarked on a training exercise for its staff thorough engaging some experienced professional hunters using part of this management quota. This training involves hunting, recovery and processing of elephant products and gathering of scientific data.

However it appears that this training process has not gone down very well with some of our stakeholders resulting in the perception that trophy hunting for commercial purposes is taking place in National Parks. Furthermore accusations of rampart poaching or complicity in poaching by staff have also arisen resulting in staff frustration and low morale.

In response the Authority has deemed it fit to suspend this programme with immediate effect to allow for reviewing of lessons leant in line with adaptive management principles which guide the Authority.

It is important to state that this programme has to go on as rations for and training of staff has to be undertaken if we are to meet our conservation goals. The Authority has also to supply meat to other stakeholders as stated above.

We invite all stakeholders with information on poaching by staff or complicity in poaching to provide such information to the office of the Director General to facilitate any investigations where necessary.

It is our sincere hope that this statement will enlighten our valued stakeholders and help correct the perceptions about this programme. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information regarding the programme.

Dr. M.Z. Mtsambiwa
Director General
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority
Box CY 140, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263 4 705 344, +263 11 870 160, + 263 912 217 405.
Fax: +263 4 790 567
e-mail: mzmtsambiwa@zimparks.co.zw

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Those tusks have seen some serious "story growth". A 92lb ele was shot in december as a "ration" hunt and a 75lb/42lb one shot in Hwange as a "management non trophy ele"

Both still totally unacceptable. Have the names of the two PH's but until I am sure enough of the facts to confront them in the supermarket, I'll hold on the "name and shame".

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:
Is there any reason to go to a supermarket in Harare these days?

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
a bull with tusks over 3m long, weighing 107 and 126lbs was shot in Hwange park under the guise of a cull hunt, by an operator from Bulawayo.

OK, what idiot PH would do this? Without knowing the circumstances (and maybe I am jumping to conclusions) I wish someone would post his name so everyone knows not to book with him in the future. The worst part of it is that there is no way in hell the client is getting those tusks out of there without paying someone a HUGE chunk of change.

tendrams

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
The big ele in Hwange was Tim Shultz (Africa Dream Safaris). His Appie M. Sibanda had it in his log book on the proficiency as one of the hunts he had accompanied (along with photo's!!!) but it has taken some time to confirm this hunt did actually take place inside the park.

quote:

Originally posted by .458Aubs:


Tim Shultz has been up to no good

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Matswani


The parks and wildlife act prohibits any foreign national from shooting any animal within a national park under any circumstances other than self defence. The act has not been amended. The two senior parks officers responsible for the permits - Tapera (Stix) Chimuti - Director Scientific services and Anne Mandaza - Director operations have both lost their jobs over this.

Zimbabwe is a land where the "law" is very selectively applied. In terms of the act, it is a criminal offence to shoot game on private land without a permit from the "appropriate Authority" - ie the holder of the title deeds. National Parks has been issuing hunting quota's for all the occupied game ranches - particularly in the Gwaai area. These are actually counter signed by the minister of Environment and Tourism. These permits have no legal basis- and are not recognised as valid by either the USA or the EU.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Matswani,

Welcome to the forum.

As a fairly new visitor, you may not be aware that Ganyana and Don know more about, and are more involved in the Zimbabwe hunting industry than pretty much anyone. - Both are also as straight as die and I'm sure that I won't be the only member here to tell you that if they tell you something, you can take it to bank.

If they're not naming certain names at this point, you can bet your life, wife and house on the fact that they have a very good reason.

My advice would be to give 'em time, and I'm sure that when they have their duck in a row, they'll do the appropriate thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Matswani:
Don Heath

I have hunted in Zimbabwe for a number of years and have hunted with a number of different outfits and hunters, what I am aware of is that the Government (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) takes from 25-45% (I know this varies)of all monies received from hunts conducted in Zimbabwe, does this not make every operator and client supporters of ZANU-PF as you put it? At one stage earlier this year 45% of all revenue received from a single hunt went to Government so everyone conducting hunts in Zimbabwe and declaring their funds (which is anyone who wanted to export our trophies) is supporting ZANU-PF. So shouldn't all operators / outfitters be deemed illegal? Shouldn't all hunts be stopped? I understand that National Parks of Zimbabwe are receiving fuel and equipment to keep operational from the elephant hunts that have been taking place under this "management program" from Operators / outfitters as they cannot keep afloat in the ever changing climate in Zimbabwe (I give them a lot of credit for even attempting to keep things going in what I understand to be a very harsh and unforgiving economy). Is not the elephant population in Zimbabwe causing a lot of environmental damage?

quote:

From what I understand as I have been investigating these unfortunate incidents that it is a small % of Schultz's clients who are unhappy. Maybe Schultz just took on too much. I'm not making excuses for the guy but accusing him of illegal undertakings without proof seems a bit unjust.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
"Ganyana and Don know more about, and are more involved in the Zimbabwe hunting industry than pretty much anyone. - Both are also as straight as die and I'm sure that I won't be the only member here to tell you that if they tell you something, you can take it to bank.

If they're not naming certain names at this point, you can bet your life, wife and house on the fact that they have a very good reason.

My advice would be to give 'em time, and I'm sure that when they have their ducks in a row, they'll do the appropriate thing".