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ZCTF
Report - August 2012
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
August 17, 2012
Proposed
mining project in Mana Pools
We have learned,
from a special
bulletin issued by the Zambezi
Society, that Habbard Investments (Pvt) Ltd proposes to undertake
mineral exploration along the Rukomechi and Chewore Rivers in Mana
Pools, Sapi and Chewore Game Reserves in the Zambezi Valley. Prospecting
licences have been granted to GeoAssociates, a locally owned company
to undertake exploration activities for Heavy Mineral Sand Deposits.
They have external partners who have insisted that an Environmental
Impact Assessment be done.
The proposed
mine will be in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a site that includes
Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas. Its status
as a World Heritage Site means that it is a property of Outstanding
Universal Value because of its cultural and/or natural significance
which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and
to be of common importance to present and future generations of
all humanity. As such, the permanent protection of this heritage
is of the highest importance, not only to Zimbabweans but to the
international community as a whole.
The Zambezi
Society intends to engage other organisations who are objecting
to the mining development to form a group of even bigger impact.
Please could any organisations who wish to join forces with them
email them at zamsoc@gmail.com.
Rhinos
killed in South Africa
281 rhinos have
been killed by poachers in South Africa so far this year. The worst
hit has been the Kruger National Park where 164 have been killed.
176 people have been arrested since January in connection with the
rhino poaching.
Savuli
ranch taken over by war vet
A female war
vet named Shuvai Mahofa has taken over Savuli Ranch in Save Valley
Conservancy. She claims to have a legal lease on the property issued
by National Parks, who apparently are not entitled to issue leases
on conservancy properties. However, the High Court of Zimbabwe has
ruled that the legal owners and operators of Savuli, Forever African
Safaris, should continue operations on Savuli and should not be
interfered with.
In contempt
of the High Court decision, Mahofa has evicted Forever African Safaris
and their employees, trashed their belongings and thrown their furniture
out on the road. In the meantime, Mr Ken Drummond has moved onto
the property and is operating under the name of Impala Safaris.
They are operating on a quota issued to Mahofa which has 5 lion
on it, which is more than the entire Save Valley Conservancy and
Savuli only forms a very small part of this.
Drummond is
now posting pictures of the Savuli Camp and of several impressive
trophies on the website of Impala
Safaris, which is owned and run by Arnold Palmer. The website
names several hunters who have taken impressive trophies on the
property. It is suspected that some of the hunters who have hunted
on Savuli are US citizens and they are quite likely unaware that
their hunts have been illegal. We would like to inform any prospective
clients that Arnold Palmer, Ken Drummond, Tikki Drummond and Impala
Safaris are acting completely illegally. This is the opinion of
the High Court of Zimbabwe set down in their recent judgement. Sadly,
their judgement has been completely ignored and the wholesale slaughter
of animals on Savuli continues. The National Parks contingent on
Savuli have shot sable, nyala, buffalo and kudu for rations and
Mahofa's brother has been seen regularly in Chiredzi selling game
meat in plain sight of police who take no action.
Presidential
heard in jeopardy
There has been
constant talk of proposed mining activities to take place in the
photographic tourism/wildlife area bordering the Hwange National
Park where the Presidential Elephants roam. Some areas have already
been pegged for coal and diamond mines. President Mugabe re-pledged
to protect these elephants in May 2011. If this mining is allowed
to go ahead, the area will be defaced by huge craters, increased
traffic, pollution and additional people. The wildlife cannot survive
this sort of human impact and greed.
Notugre Wild Dog Poisoning
(Notugre is
a conservation area near the Tuli Block) Recent illegal activities
inside Notugre have resulted in the termination of the last remaining
wild dogs. With the death of two wild dogs at Talana Farm still
fresh in our minds (20th May 2012), the last remaining pack members,
including the alpha female, has been poisoned by local Motswana
men on the 6th of July 2012.
During the end
of June 2012 the alpha female of the pack started showing signs
of pregnancy. The pack then settled in the northern section of Luenza
property in what looked like a possible denning area. Around the
4th & 5th of July the female gave birth. Number and sex of pups
were unknown. Tragically on the 6th of July two men from a nearby
cattle post walked into the den site and laced carcasses with highly
poisonous Temic in a deliberate attempt to kill these carnivores.
After investigation of the site, two wild dogs, a large male leopard,
African wild cat and
an African Hawk Eagle was found dead within a 70m radius of the
den. An impala - and a goat carcass was found laced with Temic.
The goat carcass was found high up in a Leadwood tree, cached by
a leopard. The spoor of the cat was quickly traced and the body
of the leopard found not 30m away. The tracks of two men were easily
traced back to a nearby cattle post and apprehended. Reports indicate
that these men apparently lost two goats to predators on the 5th
of July 2012, possibly by the wild dog pack, but it could also be
from spotted hyaenas. The men then returned back to their cattle
post to fetch Temic-poison, which they apparently bought from someone
at Talana Farm. The men then went back to the two goat carcasses
and carried it closer to the den site, which they admitted knowing
was there. They were also after a large male leopard, which they
knew were walking along a specific drainage line, close to the den.
They then laced both carcasses with Temic but then found the remains
of an impala carcass close to the den, which they then also laced.
What happened next is what we could figure out from tracks and spoor.
The male leopard walked along the drainage line and found one of
the goat carcasses. It then dragged it to the nearest tree and cached
it up there. While the leopard was feeding on this poisoned carcass,
the wild dogs then returned to their den, having been scared off
by these poachers, and presumable fed on the last remaining poisoned
scraps of the impala carcass. Needless to say, every animal that
fed on these carcasses died within 30m of each. These include the
African Hawk Eagle and African wild cat. These are only the animals
we could find and it is believed that there could be more dead predators
in the surrounding area.
Regarding the
pups, I personally crawled into the den with a torch to search for
any pups, but I found none. The second poisoned goat carcass was
apparently burned by these culprits, on hearing the commotion of
vehicles from their crime scene. What will happen to these men?
Will the penalties for these poachers be severe enough, or will
they just get a slap-on-the-wrist from the authorities? They are
both between the ages of 24 to 26 and live with their parents at
this cattle post. It's located just north of the Lentswe Le Moriti
four ways crossing.
What makes matters
ever worse is that in 2007, Rex Masupe from Mashatu Anti-poaching,
found a dead cheetah at this cattle post. Killed by this same family.
You have to wonder, how long have these people been poisoning and
killing our carnivores? This right under our noses. In 2008 a single
lioness was found dead along the main road past this cattle post.
Cause of death was poisoning. Furthermore, in 2010, between 4 to
5 spotted hyaenas and one leopard carcass was found scattered along
the main road past this same cattle post - all carcasses were poisoned.
Coincidence, I think not...
This senseless act of hatred towards carnivores is a major setback
and waste of countless hours of research, financial support, political
backup and commercial publicity and marketing. If people are going
to live inside Notugre with livestock, our predators are in serious
peril. They will not survive. If not for the use of GPS collars,
we would have never known the fate of these animals. How many more
do we not even know about? It was Armageddon for the wild dogs.
What's next, our lions? Cheetah?
Visit the ZCTF
fact sheet
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