Baby elephant finds new lease on life

Published

5 months ago

October 17, 2024

BY STAFF REPORTER

In a heartwarming tale of survival and compassion, a young elephant calf named Murphy has been rescued by the Wild is Life and ZEN team in Panda Masuie, near Victoria Falls.

Murphy’s story is one of resilience and hope, after being found alone and struggling to survive at Murphy’s Pan.

The dedicated rangers at Wild is Life, led by Arwell Ncube, spotted Murphy on several occasions, noticing that he was being cared for by a group of three wild bulls.

However, when the bulls left to forage, Murphy was unable to keep up and was left vulnerable to predators and starvation.

The rescue team, made the brave decision to intervene, safely separating Murphy from the bulls and bringing him to the Wild is Life, IFAW bomas.

Upon arrival, Murphy was assessed to be around 12-14 months old, extremely underweight, and traumatized.

Thanks to the care and nurturing of Moyo, the matriarch of the orphaned elephants, Murphy has begun his journey to recovery.

Moyo’s maternal instincts have kicked in, and she has taken Murphy under her wing, providing him with the comfort and support he so desperately needs, the organization said on their Facebook page.

As Murphy continues to heal and grow, his story serves as a reminder of the importance of conservation efforts and the impact of human-wildlife conflict on vulnerable animals like him.

Follow Murphy’s journey and stay updated on his progress through Wild is Life and ZEN’s social media channels.”

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

22 hours ago

March 14, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A 62-year-old ranger, Josphat Mandishara, was tragically killed by an elephant in Kariba yesterday.

Mandishara, who worked for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), was on patrol in the Gatche-gatche area with fellow rangers and police officers.

At around 10 pm, Mandishara returned to the harbor where their boat was docked, and that’s when he encountered the elephant. The elephant charged at him, causing fatal injuries. His colleagues were nearby, resupplying at the Gatche-gatche Irrigation Scheme.

Mandishara’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital for a post-mortem, and the incident was reported to the police.

ZimParks has sent a team to manage the problem elephant and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Director General of ZimParks, Prof. Edson Gandiwa, and his team have sent condolences to Mandishara’s family, friends, and colleagues. Mandishara will be remembered for his dedication to wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.