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A sad day for the presidential elephants of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
November 29, 2006

It is with disappointment - and with feelings of disillusionment and regret - that Sharon Pincott has finally decided to leave Zimbabwe, and the 'Presidential Elephants' to whom she has dedicated (on a voluntary basis) the past 6 years of her life.  

Sharon has fought tirelessly for the ongoing protection of Zimbabwe's flagship herd of elephants; for the land which used to be their key home-range; and for their wellbeing and safety. But too often, she says, her concerns are met with a great void of silence.

Sharon produced two successful books about her time amongst the Presidential Elephants, and recently released important information on the negative impact of gunfire on elephant conception rates. She spent years monitoring the social structure and population dynamics of the Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe, and successfully raised awareness about the dreadful snaring situation - and some of the truths about elephants in general. It is with regret that she leaves her work incomplete. It is proof, however, of her dedication and tenacity that she has stayed on full-time in the Hwange bush for as long as she has, even in the face of past threats, intimidation, and the ongoing apathy of some.  

Sharon says: "The Presidential Elephant family groups frequent the (Zimsun/Touch the Wild) 'Hwange Estate' relatively infrequently now. There is so little to drink these days and nowhere to bathe. Key pans are not being properly maintained. In addition, the elephants are still recovering from unethical gunfire. Lengthy, precise sightings of the Presidential families are more often than not only intermittent now - and relatively few compared to earlier years. There is no point me wasting further time and effort."  

In her latest book titled 'A Year Less Ordinary: In the Company of Zimbabwe's Grey Giants', Sharon describes the sad impact - both on the elephants and on the likes of herself who love them - of the land claims within the elephants' home-range; of unethical hunting; of the terrible snaring; and of the apathy of some. (Her first book titled 'In An Elephant's Rumble: Life Amongst the Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe' is all but sold out.)  

"Despite some high-level support, the past three years have been stressful to say the very least. This piece of tourism land was eventually returned and sport hunting banned," says Sharon. "But more problems, and more concerns, just continue to arise, week after week. One can only bang one's head against a brick wall for so many years. And I've been in the thick of it, doing it full-time, for a lot longer than most."  

"The Presidential Elephants deserve better," says Sharon. "As do other Hwange National Park elephants too. But I have come to the conclusion - finally - that the Presidential Elephants will probably never get the 'better' which they deserve. I cannot continue to promote something that is, more often than not these days, no longer there."  

Reflecting on her latest book she says, sadly, that it's not about 'Trust', 'Faith' and 'Hope' afterall. "It's about lost-Hope now."

Next year, Sharon will continue her voluntary wildlife conservation efforts elsewhere in Africa.

Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force

Visit the ZCTF fact sheet

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