Rising Jumbo Numbers Worry Minister
20 February 2010



MINISTER of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Catherine Namugala has bemoaned the range of elephant population in Zambia, which has increased in the past five years from 22,000 as of 2002 to 27,000 in 2008.

Ms Namugala said the increase had triggered escalating human elephants conflicts and that elephant population in Zambia no longer meets the criteria for Appendix one listing.

Speaking at a meeting to solicit for support and a briefing for ambassadors, high commissioners accredited to Zambia yesterday, Ms Namugala said the current elephant population size of 27,000 and increasing trends qualifies for Appendix two listing to enable Zambia utilise the species on a sustainable basis.

She said currently the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) is experiencing budgetary constraints as it needs about US$20 million annually but only received US$12 million during the same period from the consumptive and non consumptive tourism and that it need donor assistance.

The minister explained that the financial gap needs to be narrowed to make wildlife institution viable resource for the Government.

Ms Namugala said Zambia had submitted a proposal to downlist the African elephants populations in Zambia from Appendix one to Appendix two of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of the Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) during the forthcoming 15th conference of Parties (CoP15) to be held next month in Doha Qatar.

She said downslisting of the elephant's population on Zambia would facilitate commercial trade in elephant product, which would earn the country foreign currency and create employment for Zambians.


The commercial trade would involve hunting trophies for non-commercial purposes, trade in raw skins from Problem Animal Control (PAC) and trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations.

Ms Namugala said to succeed these plans would require the support from the cooperating partners.

She said the Government recognises elephants as a variable and prestigious resource in tourism development and therefore, there was no way the Government could endanger the survival and existence of species it considers to be critical in nature-based tourism.

"Therefore, it is important that the public should know that the ivory that Zambia proposes to sale is from dead elephants and is currently not producing any benefit to Zambia," he said.

Have her call me. I can help out with the culling. Heck Kathi, I will even foot my own expenses.

Rich

Seriously, this would be good all the way around for sport hunters.