ZIMBABWE: Tee Off To Save Africa’s Wildlife

Africa Albida Tourism is calling on sponsors and participants to take part in the annual fundraising Golf Day, to ensure the survival of the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit.

Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) chief executive Ross Kennedy said: “It is evident from the worldwide news coverage of Cecil the lion that wildlife conservation and dealing with poaching remains critically important. It is a key aspect of our company’s philosophy and corporate social responsibility program.

“Poaching comes in many forms and it is vital that resources are raised to ensure thatthe incredible work the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit (VFAPU) does, which has seenan increase in wildlife numbers in the Victoria Falls area, can continue,” Mr Kennedy said.

“This includes giraffe, sable, zebra, all being seen back in and around the area between Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and the Zambezi National Park, and more and more guidesare now using the national park for game drives for clients,” hesaid.

“We understand the pressure and demands in this economy, but AAT covers the costs of the event, so every cent raised goes directly to VFAPU, and we urge individuals and corporates to support the day by participating,contributing or donating in some way.”

Up to 144 players, making up 36 teams, will take part in VFAPU Golf Day, one of the most enjoyable and best organised events on the golf fundraising calendar, which will also include lunch, entertainment, prizes and a charity auction.

VFAPU has arrested nearly 700 hardened poachers since it was established in 1999 bylocal safari operator and conservationist Charles Brightman and the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, the flagship property of the Africa Albida Tourism group.

So far, the unit, which works closely with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, has also removed more than 22000 wire snares from its operational area.

In addition, 179 mammals, including buffalo, kudu, eland and impala, injured by snares have been treated and released back into the wild, Mr Brightman said.

“The Cecil the lion incident was just one example of what VFAPU has been fighting against for many year snow,and we welcome the attention that this singular incident has brought to what has been going on for sometime.”

Two rhino a day, and one elephant every 15 minutes, are poached in Africa, with parts of Zimbabwe, such as Matusadona and Chizarira national parks, having lost more than 70per cent of their elephant population in the past ten years, Mr Brightman said.

The charity golf tournament, which raised a record $14,750 last year, is integral tothe survival of VFAPU, which relies on donations to cover its $6,000 a month operational costs,he said.

FAPU, which was established in an effort to fight the alarming levels of poaching,operates in a 50kmsq area around Victoria Falls, and has 17 scouts patrolling seven days a week.The unit tackles all forms of poaching, including wood, bush meat andivory.

ZIMBABWE: Fourteen Elephants Poisoned All Killed With Cyanide

Fourteen elephants were poisoned by cyanide in Zimbabwe in three separate incidents, two years after poachers killed more than 200 elephants by poisoning, Zimbabwe’s National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said Tuesday.

Three elephants were killed in Matusadona National Park in the Kariba area in northern Zimbabwe and 11 more pachyderms were found dead in two different spots in Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe over the past two weeks.

In all cases the elephants were killed by cyanide, according to kidney and liver samples from the dead elephants tested by the Biological Sciences Department, said a parks spokeswoman.

Six elephants were found dead with their tusks removed in Hwange National Park, 600 kilometers (372 miles) west of the capital, Harare, authorities said on Tuesday.

After discovering the first group of bodies on September 26, the rangers also came across five more elephant carcasses less than a week later. The dead animals still had their tusks, suggesting that the alleged poachers were disrupted.

Poisoned oranges
In a separate incident, the authorities in Matusadona National Park also found three dead elephants whose kidney and liver samples tested positive for cyanide.

In all three cases, the suspected poachers spiked food with cyanide, leaving poisoned oranges, maize cobs and salt sticks as bait for the pachyderms, said Caroline Washaya-Moyo, spokeswoman for Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

"No arrests have been made in all the cases and investigations are still in progress," she added.

The Matusadona Anti-Poaching Project, a private organization, offered $400 for information leading to arrest and conviction of the poisoners.

Cyanide is a commonly used chemical in Zimbabwean mining industry and is therefore easy to obtain.

Poaching on the rise
The Hwange National Park first captured headlines in July this year, after an American dentist killed its most famous animal, Cecil the lion. Despite the international outrage, poaching in western Zimbabwe remains a serious concern.

"We have had a number of poaching activities in the province, they are actually increasing each day," said Clement Munoriarwa, police commander for Mashonaland West province, on state television.

Smuggling a python skin
Traditionally, poachers in the African country have used firearms and traps to get ivory. This changed in 2013, after a group of poachers laced salt pans with cyanide targeting the elephants in Hwange.

Hundreds of elephants have died in the incident, conservation activists claim, although the official figures are much lower.

On Tuesday, authorities arrested a Zambian who was allegedly trying to smuggle 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of ivory from Zimbabwe to South Africa. The ivory would reach $6,320 (5,600 euros) on the South African market.

The Zambian was also carrying a 3 meter (10 feet) python skin, national parks spokeswoman Washaya-Moyo said.