Tourism and Environment

First-ever Kavango-Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area elephant census begins

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2022

BY MQONDISI DUBE

Five southern African countries, with more than half the continent’s elephants, are conducting a first-ever aerial census to determine the elephant population and how to protect it.

Light aircraft will fly simultaneously across the plains of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe — in a conservation area known as the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area (KAZA) — in an exercise that will run until October 20.

KAZA is home to an estimated 220,000 elephants, and the five countries are keen to know the exact figures and the animals’ distribution patterns.

More than 130,000 of the animals are found in Botswana, which has the world’s largest elephant population.

Botswana’s National Parks and Wildlife director, Kabelo Senyatso, said the population count will be key in the management of the elephants.

The data primarily will be used to guide decision-making by the five partner states, Senyatso said, including land-use planning, managing human-elephant conflict, hunting, and tourism.

Senyatso said the exercise is critical for a region with a high number of trans-boundary elephants.

“It is important that as managers of the resource, we have a clear understanding of where they are and how they are distributed across the landscape,” Senyatso said.

“It is an exciting project, the first of its kind. We expect the data on the patterns to be analysed starting early 2023 such that by quarter one of 2023, we would already be having preliminary data that we can share with the public and for our decision-making.”

KAZA’s executive director, Nyambe Nyambe, said the elephant count will determine a scientific approach to the management of the elephant populations.

“It is highly anticipated that it will generate science-based information on the population distribution and other factors and is a reaffirmation of the KAZA partner states’ commitment to the joint pursuit of science-led conservation supported by accurate and reliable data,” Nyambe said.

“The results from this survey will become the cornerstone for the long-term protection and management of Africa’s largest trans-boundary elephant population.”

Botswana-based conservationist Map Ives said revealing the elephant migration patterns across the five countries’ borders is key.

“We hope to see what the results come up with,” Ives said.

“What we will be interested in seeing is not only how many elephants there are but the distribution, therefore, and what the likelihood of those elephants moving between countries is. We know that this population is one single contiguous population.”

While elephant populations are increasing in the KAZA region, elsewhere on the African continent the numbers are decreasing due to loss of habitat and poaching. – VOA

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Game ranger accused of killing lions, appears in court

Published

1 week ago

October 28, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZIMPARKS) ranger appeared before Hwange Magistrates Court on Saturday, accused of killing three lions and removing their heads and paws.

Hali Mabuya, 39, and employee of the at Hwange National Park’s Mtshibi Camp, appeared before magistrate Fungai Dzimbiri facing charges of unlawful hunting and unlawful possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate.

The three lions, two females and one male, were found dead near the Dom Pan waterhole inside Hwange National Park on October 22.

The killing and dismembering of the animals is believed to have been carried out by more than one person, as tyre marks and footprints were observed at the scene.

ZIMPARKS had offered a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

Prosecutor Jemesina Makanza told the court that Mabuya was arrested after attempting to return a Point 458 rifle to the armoury, with requests to alter the dates of when he had signed for and returned the weapon.

The rifle has since been matched to the bullets that killed the lions.

Mabuya was remanded in custody to November 1, as the investigation continues.

VicFallsLive will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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$2K reward offered for info on lion poachers in Hwange National Park

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has announced a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspected poachers who killed three lions in Hwange National Park.

The lions were found dead with their heads and legs chopped off.

“We are offering a reward of $2000 for any information that can lead to the arrest of suspects responsible for the poaching of three lions in Hwange National Park,” said Tinashe Farawo, ZimParks spokesperson.

The incident was discovered on early this week near Nyamandlovu pan, Hwange Main Camp.

According to ZimParks, the lions’ carcasses were found with bullet holes from a heavy calibre rifle and their heads and legs had been chopped off.

The authority is urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.

“You may contact Tinashe Farawo on 0772433901 or tfarawo@zimparks.org.zw. All information will be treated with strict confidence,” said Farawo.

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Poachers kill three lions in Hwange National Park

Published

2 weeks ago

October 23, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A suspected poaching incident has occurred in Hwange National Park, where three lions were found dead with their heads and legs chopped off.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is investigating the killing of the lions at Nyamandlovu pan, Hwange Main Camp.

According to an internal memo, three carcasses were discovered on Tuesday with their heads and legs chopped off, and bullet holes from a heavy calibre rifle were found on the carcasses.

The incident is currently under investigation by the K9 section.

The Hwange National Park, home to over 60 000 elephants, 150 other mammal species, and 400 bird species, is a country’s crucial area for wildlife conservation.

Conservationists say the park’s lion population is already under threat, and this incident only adds to the concern.

The Hwange Lion Research Project, run by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of Oxford University, has been monitoring the lion population for 15 years.

The project focuses on understanding lion behavior, ecology, and demographics to inform conservation strategies. Additionally, the SATIB Conservation Trust supports the project through funding and material support.