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ZCTF Report - June 2009
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
June 16, 2009

Thanks to the El Paso Rhinos Hockey Team, I was able to deliver 100kg of game cubes to Imire last week for Tatenda. Due to medical problems, I have been unable to travel to South Africa to replenish Tatenda's stocks of milk and game cubes since February and his food has been running low. Fortunately I was able to source the game cubes locally so I bought 100kg to start with just to make sure they agree with him and if they do, I will buy another 400kg here in Zimbabwe.

Tatenda is growing into a magnificent rhino. He is almost the same size as Shanu now, who is almost 5 years old. Tatenda, Shanu and Hogwash the warthog still go everywhere together in the Imire Game Park and Hogwash is now one of the biggest warthogs I've ever seen.

Our sincere appreciation to the El Paso Rhinos, who have adopted Tatenda, for assisting with funds for his food.

Hope for Zimbabwe's rhinos

We would like to congratulate the Zimbabwe Republican Police and game rangers who are risking their lives to try and stamp out rhino poaching. In the past 6 weeks, seven rhino poachers have been shot and killed.

Last month, three poachers were shot and last weekend, another four poachers were shot and killed following a shoot out between the poachers and the police bringing to seven, the number of poachers killed in the Lowveld. It is believed that one of the four was a soldier.

In a separate incident recently, the four poachers who were responsible for the deaths of the three rhinos at Imire were apprehended. One was shot and wounded and all four have been arrested. They were previously arrested about a year ago but then inexplicably released shortly afterwards so hopefully this time they will remain in prison where they belong. We believe they were due to appear in court yesterday.

Inspector Nyambo of the Zimbabe Republic Police has issued a very strong warning to poachers that the police will not hesitate to shoot them because rhino poaching is on the increase.

Visit the ZCTF fact sheet

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