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Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
UPDATE ON HWANGE NATIONAL PARK
Also see Reuters report Zimbabwe recovers 22 tusks, poaching on rise

We recently received a very large donation of USD8,500 from Nicholas Duncan of the SAVE Foundation of Australia. They requested that this donation be used to purchase 10 000 litres of diesel to keep 5 elected pans full of water during this dry period.

We purchased the 10 000 litres of fuel and loaded it into a fuel tanker together with a further 5 000 litres bought by Friends of Hwange for use in the 10 pans that they are looking after. An additional 1 000 litres was donated by Fred Knott of Sandvik. 

We also received 5 tyres from Gavin Randall and 9 pairs of overalls, 20 pairs safety shoes and 7 pairs gum boots from Sandvik which we delivered to Hwange National Park along with the fuel.

We are beginning to get complimentary emails from tourists saying that they are gratified to see that the pans all have water now and the picnic sites are being maintained. This is very encouraging and our heartfelt appreciation goes to all the donors who have made this possible.

DONATIONS DELIVERED TO HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

RHINO SHOT IN HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

We have just received a disturbing report about a black rhino being shot for its horn in Hwange National Park.

The incident happened very recently during the last annual game count. A group of people who were engaged in the game count heard bursts of automatic gun fire from an AK very close by, followed by hacking sounds. They scanned the bush with binoculars and saw two men in the bush about three hundred metres away. They were understandably reluctant to approach the men as they were not armed but they reported the matter to National Parks who did a follow-up the next morning.

At the site where the two men had been seen, a dead black rhino cow was found with her horn missing. There were two sets of footprints and it was determined that one of the men had been wearing gum boots and the other, track shoes or tackies.

GOLD PANNING

We are extremely distressed to report that our river systems are under constant attack by gold panners. We recently visited the Umfurudzi Wilderness to investigate reports of gold panners destroying the dry river beds. In their search for gold , literally hundreds of gold panners are digging enormous holes in the river beds, about 15 feet deep and when they have finished, they leave the holes exposed instead of refilling them with sand. This is preventing the water from flowing and because of the mass of humanity involved in this practice, the animals are afraid to come down to the water to drink.

The gold panners are very wary of cameras but when we explained that we were making a movie, they were quite excited at the prospect of being on film and didn't offer any resistance. The following photos were taken on the Umfurudzi River but these scenes are typical of any river system where gold can be found in Zimbabwe.

ELEPHANTS SHOT IN CHIRUNDU

We have received reports from disgusted and heartbroken tourists about elephants being shot by National Parks staff in Chirundu. Some South African tourists have vowed never to come back here. On the one hand, Zimbabwe is trying to promote tourism and on the other, destroying any chances of reviving it.

In the first case, an elephant killed the caretaker of a safari camp so National Parks shot it in full view of tourists who were visiting the neighbouring camp. The local people believed the wrong elephant had been shot. Soon afterwards, an employee of the neighbouring camp was attacked and almost killed by an elephant so that elephant was also shot by National Parks and it was found to have a wound on its head so it is believed that this was the same elephant that killed the caretaker. It is believed that the first elephant was shot in error.

On the 2nd September, the caretaker of a safari camp had too much to drink, stole the company vehicle and then walked into an elephant which killed him. The next day, this elephant was shot by National Parks, again in very close proximity to a safari camp so that tourists witnessed the killing. They say that the elephant was shot 16 times before it finally died.

A few days later, another elephant was shot. Upon enquiries, a National Parks official in Chirundu replied that this elephant was shot because it was causing problems with truckers. However, a junior official said that this was the elephant that had killed the caretaker and the first one shot, with 16 bullets, had been the wrong one.

A fifth elephant was shot, apparently because it knocked over a phone booth. It is reported that it took 40 bullets to kill this one. The following is an eye witness account of the incident:

To Whom it may concern

At approx 5.30 pm on 3/9/06 I was sitting at my outside table, overlooking the Chirundu floodplain below me.

Suddenly what sounded like an AK 47 rifle fired 4-5 shots in rapid succession. I jumped up to see what the comotion was about. Right below me I saw an elephant stumble whilst trying to run away.

It collapsed onto its front knees, with what appeared to me, having being shot in its knee caps, disabling it from running further, still trying to scramble away.I then saw a national parks member shooting at random, up to a further 40 shots into the elephant. After approx 7 minutes the elephant fell over on its side, and a heavy calibre weapon was heard to fire a single shot.

The reason I write this is as follows:-

1/ 3-4 years ago the flood plain below me teamed with game, today you are lucky to see an impala down there over a week period.

2/ This elephant of today apparently damaged a phone booth and was murdered. In the past they would be frightened off with fire crackers or gun shots into the air. Now Zero tolerance.

3/ My domestic staff tell me this is the 9th elephant to die like this this year in Chirundu, on more than two occassions the wrong one being shot.

4/ My domestic worker gave me 4kg elephant meat to take home to his wife 10 days ago when the 8th elephant was shot, after apparently killing a drunk person. Apparently the 7th elephant was shot by mistake , the 8th being the culprit..

This meat he paid $ 1200 for and was not issued a receipt. The large parks ranger was seen at the local bar that night in a very inebriated state.!!!

5/ The Zambezi valley is a wilderness area. The loss of game here has to be seen to be believed - national parks are entrusted to look after our wildlife heritage - which they are not. ! The callous and inhumane way they are despatching the game here is appalling and under brutal conditions - they just dont care.

Finally I wish to appeal to you to investigate this random slaughter that is now reaching endemic proportions, 30 km away from Mana Pools , a national heritage site.
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