ZIMBABWE: Conservationist Blames Zim Wildlife Exports

Zimbabwe's decision to export wild animals to China will kill local tourism and drive communities living near nature reserves deeper into poverty, a leading conservationist has warned.

Zimbabwe Conservation Trust (ZCTF) chairman Johnny Rodrigues said only a few well connected people would benefit from the trade, which the government claims is meant to finance conservation efforts.

Zimbabwe has in recent years come under fire from conservationists after it sold elephants to China under what was described as inhumane conditions. Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri recently said the country would export more wild animals such as lions, baboons and hyenas to the Asian country because government was not able to fund conservation activities.

Last July, the government sent 24 young elephants to Chimelong Safari Park near Guangzhou in China, raising the ire of conservationists worldwide.

However, Rodrigues who is credited for identifying the killer of world famous Cecil the lion near Hwange National Park last year, said the exports would only fuel poaching as communities would feel disempowered.

"The people who are supposed to be benefitting from these species are not and as a result people now rely on illegal hunting," Rodrigues told Radio VOP.

"It does not work and as a result these animals are being depleted from their nature.

"As we speak there are plans to export more different species to China and that is stupid because all these animals belong to Zimbabweans, they don't belong to the ministers or any politician." The government has in the past expressed unhappiness over Rodrigues' conservation work, claiming his reports on poaching activities were harming the country's image, but the activist said he would not be silenced.

"I have nothing to hide but I tell the truth, the thing is solutions are there and we know how to solve our problems facing the country but there are certain individuals who are benefitting at the expense of local people," Rodrigues said.

"As a result (of imbalances) poverty will never be eradicated and right now people are suffering because everything is politically oriented."

He said exporting wild animals to China would also endanger the local tourism industry while boosting the Asian country's economy.

"If we export the animals we will be cutting off the nose to spite faces and it is not supposed to work that way," Rodrigues charged.

"Currently the biggest foreign currency earner for the country is tourism and if we sell those animals where will the tourists come from?

VIETNAM: Asian Elephant Tourism Trends Are Moving Into Africa

A new report has slammed the use of elephants in the tourism industry, accusing operators of “appalling cruelty”.

World Animal Protection said that the trends seen in the Asian tour industry, whereby elephants used for tourist rides and shows, are now spreading to southern Africa. According to the report, elephants calves are being are taken away from their mothers to endure “cruel and stressful training” to make them tolerate being ridden.

“If not addressed urgently, hundreds more… elephants could face a lifetime of cruel confinement, beatings and other harsh treatment, all for tourist entertainment,” the report asserts.

While elephant tourism is well established in Asia, World Animal Protection warned that the practice is now spreading throughout southern Africa.

There are now reported to be 144 captive elephants in at least 28 different South African venues, plus 47 elephants in seven parks in Zimbabwe, 13 in two venues in Zambia, and 11 in two venues in Botswana.

The report also states that 24 young elephants were recently sold and exported by the Zimbabwean government to Chimelong Safari Park in China, where they will “suffer a life of abuse performing in shows and giving rides”.

“You’re taking the wild out of Africa by breaking the spirit of their elephants so they can be ridden and perform for tourists,” said Kate Nustedt, director of Wildlife at World Animal Protection. “People who love animals will be shocked about the cruelty behind the scenes of elephant rides, and they will no longer want to take part.

“There are many places in southern Africa for tourists to see elephants in the wild, and we’re encouraging people to see them there, not in cruel tourist entertainment.”

More than 20 travel companies around the world, including TUI Netherlands, Intrepid Travel, Asian Oasis and World Expeditions, have stopped offering elephant rides or shows to their customers.

“We’re calling on all operators to do the same, and to show their commitment to this by signing the World Animal Protection Elephant-friendly Tourism Pledge,” Ms Nustedt added.