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Wildlife Conservation

Conservation is the PRESERVATION of wildlife which includes not only animals but all aspects of nature, rivers, trees, flora and fauna.

Zimbabwe Wildlife Conservation

In Zimbabwe until recent years the proper conservation of wildlife was a matter of National priority. Upon this foundation the highly respected Zimbabwe National Parks was founded.

Concern over the survival of large mammals was first expressed early in the 20th century, as many species including rhino and elephant, had suffered severely from several decades of uncontrolled hunting. The spread of commercial agriculture and human settlement had also destroyed animal habitats.

The government responded by setting aside large "game reserves" solely for wildlife. These reserves were the forerunners of today's national parks system. Locals were removed from these areas and forbidden to hunt for any reason. Approximately 5 million hectares of land or 13% of Zimbabwe falls under the care of the Zimbabwe National Parks authority.

In recent years due to the economic collapse of the country. The challenges of conservation have become even tougher. Poaching for meat has become a matter of their own survival for many local people. Poaching for animal products such as skins, rhino horn and elephant tusks, has become prolific as poachers are offered in some cases the equivalent of a years wages for one rhino horn. Poaching for wood for both firewood and curio carving has dramatically increased as curio carvers try to etch out a living.

rhino poaching

How sad is this picture!

There have also been many reports of uncontrolled hunting, whereby hunting is carried out unscrupulously, not taking into account the stock levels of animals etc.

The situation is dire and only through the concerted effort of certain groups of people has the situation avoided complete disaster.

These are some groups which have played a pivotal role in conserving our wildlife. We are very thankful to them for their dedication and hard work.

The success of sustainable conservation today is through community awareness Everyone has to understand the value and importance of our natural resources and understand that is within their own interests to protect them. 

I believe that we must all play our part and not leave it to the other guy to do. Have your say in the blog below...

 

Wildlife Conservation Blog

If you have an opinion, a story, maybe an idea on how to start a conservation project or anything about conservation that you think might be of interest, please share it with us in the invitation box below. It will be posted onto our blog and a dedicated web page will be created for it.

Click here to read previous blog entries

Previous Blog Entries

Click on the blog entries below to see them and add your comments...

223 Zebra Translocated to Matusadona National Park 
Matusadona National Park is home to impressive wildlife and scenery, and unfortunately like many other game parks, faces rampant poaching. The area used …

Save the elephants, and other species, too 
The decades old policy of destroying ivory keeps the price of ivory so high that the incentive to kill elephants overwhelms underfunded efforts to protect …

Animal slaughter 
Why doesn't Zimbawe animal welfare step in and catch these idiot murderers, poachers and slaughterers and now taking baby elephants sneaking them to China. …

VFAPU SUMMARY REPORT 2014 
To start off, we would like to wish each and every one of our supporters the very best for 2015 and let’s hope that the New Year will bring many successes …

The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust 
The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (formerly the Wild Horizons Wildlife Trust) is dedicated to protecting the area’s unique indigenous fauna and flora in …

Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit report 2012 
Dear Supporters Firstly, we would like to thank our supporters and followers for such incredible support, which is so very crucial to our efforts in …

430 Rhino have been Poached this Year 
South Africa has lost 430 rhinos to poaching since January this year, according to the Department of Environmental Affairs. "The latest rhino poaching …

MINERAL SANDS MINING IN THE RUCKOMECHI & CHEWORE RIVERS. 
MINERAL SANDS MINING IN THE RUCKOMECHI & CHEWORE RIVERS. Report on meeting with Mr. Paul Chimbodza, C.E.O. of GeoAssociates Private LTD – the Proponent …

Africa’s lions face “emergency situation”  
Tourism Update spoke with renowned conservationist Dereck Joubert, founder of National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative, about the emergency situation …

Biggest International Operation Against Ivory Traffickers - 200 Arrested 
Interpol made more than 200 arrests and retrieved nearly two tonnes of contraband ivory on June 19 in its biggest international operation against ivory …

One Rhino Killed every day in May 
Poachers have killed 220 rhinos since the beginning of the year, according to a statement released by the Department of Environmental Affairs on May 21. …

Poaching of Rhinos in SA is Dramatically Increasing 
South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs reports that 171 rhinos have been killed between January and April 2012. Tourism Update reported …

Shearwater helps Zimbabwe National Parks fight back but the Rhino slaughter continues 
In mid February 2012 a poacher was shot and killed after a gun battle with game rangers at the Hwange National Park. The poachers dehorned a black rhino …

Rhino Poaching Figures March 2012 
The Department of Environmental Affairs has announced that 135 rhinos have been lost to rhino poaching this year. The Kruger National Park (KNP) continues …

Already 52 rhinos poached in SA 2012 
Fifty-two rhinos have been killed this year already, according to a statement released by SANParks. The hardest hit areas continue to be the Kruger …

Illegal Hunting in Zimbabwe 
Yet another shocking case of some unscrupulous people destroying our country's wildlife in their quest for money. About 2 weeks ago two well known Zimbabwean …

Game rangers shoot dead three rhino 'poachers' 
THREE men were shot dead after a pre-dawn shoot-out with game rangers at a rhino park in Chiredzi, officials said. The trio, believed to be poachers, …

Fears in Zimbabwe as poachers poison water  
Health fears are on the rise in Zimbabwe as poachers began poisoning water holes in many of the country's biggest game parks, killing dozens of animals. …

2 tons of elephant ivory seized in Hong Kong  
794 pieces of tusks estimated to be worth $1.6 million were hidden by stones Hong Kong customs officers have seized a large shipment of African …

Five African Nations Sign Up for Conservation Zone the Size of California 
Five southern African countries have signed into place the region’s biggest and most ambitious transfrontier conservation project yet. It covers a sparsely …

Poachers devise new tricks to evade detection  
From fresh reports of illegal hunting in Zimbabwe, it would appear as though the poachers are adamant on wiping out all wildlife and as long as the authorities, …

Mana Pools developement to go ahead 
Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, which is part of a larger Unesco World Heritage Site that comprises Sapi and Chewore, is one of the least developed …

African Elephants to Benefit From New $100 Million Fund 
Global conservation experts aim to raise US$100 million over the next three years to ensure the long-term survival of African elephants in the face of …

Rampant Poaching Decimates Kariba Wildlife 
The Kariba Animal Welfare Fund said last week that poaching activities threatened to decimate entire herds of buffalo, waterbuck, impala and zebra in the …

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Elephant and rhino poaching 'is driven by China's economic boom' 
The ivory trade has doubled in Guangzhou and Fuzhou, a study has found, adding to fears for Africa's elephant and rhino populations Elephant poaching …

Presidential herd under fire 
The presidential herd - a herd of elephants granted "perpetual protection" by President Robert Mugabe - faces severe threats as mines and human settlements …

How farming rhino will save them 
There were 60000 rhino in Africa in 1970. That number should have grown to 600000 by today but we only have 25000, or 4% of what we should have had. Poachers …

Museums Being Targeted By Rhino Horn Thieves 
In recent months, museums throughout Europe have been the targets of particularly crafty criminals -- not international jewelry thieves, but illegal wildlife …

Zimbabwe arrests 10 for rhino, elephant poaching 
Authorities in Zimbabwe have arrested 10 people for poaching and unlawful possession of elephant tusks and rhino horns that they were suspected of selling …

VFAPU REPORT – January to end June 2011 
Dear Supporters Many thanks to those concerned that continue to support the unit and it’s operations and one can not emphasis enough, the importance …

Poacher stalked by lions 'happy to be found' 
A SUSPECTED poacher hunting black rhino was happy to be found after he was charged down by elephants and stalked by lions, a Victoria Falls court heard. …

Goldman Prize: Zimbabwe's rhino rescuer honoured  
Raoul du Toit, a Zimbabwe-based conservationist who has taken a very direct approach to saving Africa's Critically Endangered black rhino, has been selected …

Parks rangers shoot and kill two poachers 
PARKS rangers have shot and killed two poachers in Chaizarira National Park in Binga during a shoot out. The rangers recovered three Lee-Enfield rifles, …

De-Horning Rhino by the International Anti-Poaching Foundation 
Back in September last year the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) led an operation on the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve to de-horn five …

Victoria Falls Vulture Restaurants Attract South African Clientele 
In a story first published in the Zambezi Traveller, staff at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge were very interested to discover that two of the White-backed …

Two Poachers Shot Dead 
PARKS rangers have shot and killed two poachers in Chizarira National Park in Binga. The rangers recovered three .303 rifles, 76 rounds of ammunition, …

21 Rhinos Already Poached in 2011 
The Chief Executive Officer of South African National Parks (SANParks), Dr David Mabunda, has announced that in the month of January 2011 South Africa …

Two White Rhino's Born in Zambia 
This past November I introduced you to the white rhinos of Mosi-Oa-Tunya Park in AWF”s Kazungula Heartland, and shared the good news that two were pregnant. …

Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit (VFAPU) 2010 report 
Dear VFAPU Supporters and potential Supporters Firstly, on behalf of all of us VFAPU, I would like to thank you all for your continued support, which …

Make a Stand Against Rhino Poaching 
* Target: Ms Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs * Sponsored by: Karra Rothery, Voice of Conservation 2007: 13 rhinos slaughtered …

China's Presence in Africa Blamed for Threat to Rhino Populations 
A devastating upswing in rhino poaching by criminal syndicates armed with helicopters, night vision goggles and silenced rifles is threatening to roll …

Rhino Poaching in SA Reaches All Time High 
An astonishing 333 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa in 2010, including 10 critically endangered black rhinos, according to South African national …

Chinese Paochers Suspected of Killing Rhinos 
HARARE – Chinese poachers have been accused of killing six rhinos at a game sanctuary near Harare as incidents linking the spreading Chinese footprint …

Breakthrough in Rhino Conservation 
RUSTENBURG - In a development that might have far reaching benefits for Zimbabwe’s fight against rhino poachers, scientists and conservationists in neighbouring …

Solving the thousand-piece rhino poaching puzzle 
Rhino poachers, a phrase that evokes images of swarthy mercenaries in leather jackets, leading groups of natives into the still African night, AK-47 assault …

HWANGE GAME COUNT 2010 
Wednesday 22 September/Thursday 23 September Having spent a couple of luxurious nights in cool comfort at Lokathula Lodges at Victoria Falls, we headed …

UK Government bans rhino horn exports 
You don’t get many rhinos in the UK – so why is it so important to ban rhino horn exports? Let us explain… We’re delighted that the government is clamping …

Wildlife ranchers in South Africa call for controlled trade of rhino horn 
An association of 1,500 private landowners with an interest in wildlife in South Africa today called for controlled legal trade in rhino horns as a way …

Rhino Poachers Now Use Helicopters 
HARARE – The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has made a passionate plea to INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs …

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British celebrity admits to consuming Rhino horn powder 
40-something supermodel Elle Macpherson has apparently been duped into thinking Rhino horn has medicinal benefits. Is aging beauty Elle Macpherson ignorant, …

Buffaloes Dying of Starvation  
About 300 buffalo's are facing starvation in the Zambezi Valley as rising lake waters submerge grazing land, conservationists warned last week. The …

Poachers Kill 10 Elephant in Zimbabwe 
HARARE, Zimbabwe — The state wildlife authority says poachers killed 10 elephants in a single attack in southeastern Zimbabwe. All the tusks were removed, …

Musango Bull Elephant Shot Dead 
There are two pictures here. The one is a painting of the “Musango” Bull Elephant by well known artist Larry Norton, and the other is a photograph taken …

Good News - Rhino Population Increases in Zimbabwe 
Harare - THE rhino population in Zimbabwe has continued to increase recording a 10 percent annual growth despite rampant poaching activities in the country. …

Kariba's Animal are Starving 
The first "Vulture Count" day took place on 1st June 2010. There will be others later in the season. For more information, contact Rory MacDougall bedrockrory@gmail.com …

Ivory Black Market Threatens the African Elephant  
A surge in demand for ivory in Asia is fuelling an illicit trade in elephant tusks, especially from Africa. Over the past eight years, the price of ivory …

Poaching continues to damage African Elephant numbers 
It is estimated that in 1950 the African elephant population numbered 5 million, by the 1989 their numbers had been devastated by poaching, leaving fewer …

Zambia blocks Zambezi Water project 
BULAWAYO - Zimbabwe's chances of drawing water from the Zambezi River to the Gwayi-Tshangani dam is facing stiff resistance from Zambia, who has claimed …

Elephants Win - Ivory Sales Banned 
DOHA, QATAR -- Conservationists scored a rare victory at a United Nations wildlife meeting Monday when governments voted to reject weakening the 21-year-old …

Rhino Poaching: Zim Probed by Interpol 
HARARE – Zimbabwe is among 18 countries being investigated for complicity in a racket involving the illegal trade in traditional medicines containing …

Horrific Development Opposite Mana Pools 
PROTEA Hotels plan to build a“ultra modern” 144-bedroom hotel on the banks of the Zambezi River in a wild area just upstream from the world-renowned Mana …

Time to choose: Elephants or Ivory 
Dear friends, In 5 days, the worldwide UN ban on ivory trading could be lifted -- a decision that could wipe out Africa's vulnerable elephants. But …

Release of Rhino Poachers Exposes Widespread Enforcement Failures  
The release of six alleged rhino poachers from custody two weeks before a meeting of the largest wildlife trade convention is emblematic of the chronic …

Trading Rhino Horn for Guns!! 
14 Feb 10 Trading Rhino Horn for Guns: Is Zimbabwe Rhino Poaching Linked to Chinese Weapons Acquisition? Now that Zimbabwe security forces stand …

2010 Plans for Zimbabwe Wild Dogs  
This is the latest Newsletter from The Wildlife Direct- Zimbabwe Wild Dogs website. It's an interesting read for anyone passionate about wildlife …

Rhino Horn Worth More than Gold  
POACHERS see rhino as their way to get rich quick - for its horn is now worth more than gold for the first time in a decade. Demand in south Asia has …

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