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For Zimbabwe’s black rhinos Covid-19 has been a godsend

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BY FORTUNE MOYO AND KUDZAI MAZVARIRWOFA

The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating to humans.

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But to Zimbabwe’s black rhinos, it’s been a godsend.

Rhinos have no natural predators; humans are their greatest threat. Poachers kill rhinos to harvest their horns, which they smuggle to black markets in Asia for use in traditional medicine.

But international travel restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus — though crippling to Zimbabwe’s tourism sector — have significantly aided conservation of the country’s black rhinos, which officials designated as critically endangered in 2012.

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The species saw a rare population boom in 2020, says Christopher Whitlatch, the communications director of the International Rhino Foundation, which is involved in the conservation of all five rhino species.

In southern Zimbabwe’s Bubye Valley, for example, which lost 71 rhinos to poachers during the two years preceding the pandemic, the population increased nearly 14% during the first half of 2020.

“Covid-19 really aided efforts to protect rhinos,” he says.

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The poaching of Zimbabwe’s black rhinos reached its peak in 2019 and was beginning to decline due to increased anti-poaching measures, Whitlatch says.

Coronavirus restrictions acted as a catalyst.

Tinashe Farawo, the public relations manager at the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, says until 2019 poachers were killing rhinos nearly every day.

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Authorities have had more than 10 armed confrontations in the past five years, Farawo says, some of which led to the deaths of rangers and suspected poachers.

Then, in 2020, nearly all poaching stopped.

International travel bans during the early days of the pandemic meant traffickers were unable to move rhino horn to markets, Whitlatch says.

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That cut down on poachers but also led to a decline in tourism funds.

“The burden was placed on rangers, parks and conservancy staff,” he says.

“There was trouble replacing equipment, and salaries were cut.”

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When the movement restrictions forced them to stay in place, rangers and other conservation staff decided to continue working.

To temporarily offset lost tourism revenue, the rhino foundation created the Reserve Relief Fund.

With about 1,000 animals, Zimbabwe has the fourth-largest population of black rhinos in the world, after South Africa, Namibia and Kenya.

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The black rhino population boom in Zimbabwe is a bright spot amid myriad lockdowns that hurt conservation efforts worldwide, according to research published in the journal Biological Conservation.

Uganda’s protected Bugoma Forest saw an increase in the use of snares, which can kill or injure unintended animals like endangered chimpanzees.

And India reported a 500 percent spike in seizures of pangolins from people trafficking them for food and medicine.

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Farawo, of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, says officials knew some people might see the absence of tourists in parks as an opportunity to engage in illegal activities.

“When there are normal tourism activities, people can easily identify suspicious activities and alert the authorities,” he says.

The absence of that vital source of intelligence meant rangers had to work harder than normal, Farawo says.

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They put protection mechanisms in place, including watching and defending the rhinos around-the-clock, moving herds to more secure areas and in some extreme cases dehorning rhinos so poachers have no interest in killing them.

Black rhino populations in Africa fell drastically during the last century due to European hunters and settlers, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Between 1960 and 1995, experts estimate that the number of black rhinos declined by 98%, to fewer than 2,500.

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Due to increased conservation efforts, around 5,600 now exist.

Poaching continues to endanger the animals’ existence.

Raoul du Toit, a Zimbabwean environmentalist and director of the Lowveld Rhino Trust, says the country has experienced several surges in black rhino poaching over the years.

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The most devastating was in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when poachers nearly decimated the black rhino population in the Zambezi Valley, which in the early 1980s had Africa’s largest rhino population.

To save the few survivors, the government and conservationists relocated them to former cattle ranches that had become unprofitable due to persistent droughts in southern Zimbabwe.

Around 90 percent of Zimbabwe’s black rhinos live on such conservancies.

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Only now, the species faces a very different threat than that posed by European hunters during the 20th century.

“A flare-up of demand for rhino horn in Asia has created the perfect storm,” du Toit says.

Unproven medical claims in some southeast Asian countries that, when consumed in powder form, rhino horn can heal a variety of ailments, including cancer, drive the demand, he says.

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A kilo of rhino horn can sell for as much as US$60,000 in the Asian black market.

But Whitlatch now sees a future for Zimbabwe’s black rhinos. Officials have assembled teams to monitor them and collect data to help determine the species’ overall health.

They’ve also deployed electronic tracking in some areas to provide real-time monitoring.

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“It has not been easy, but it’s a success story,” Whitlatch says.

“Zimbabwe is a model of light to show what can be done to save rhinos.” – Global Press Journal 

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Tsholotsho to host national commemoration of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe will on Thursday, this week,  join the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR), with national events set to take place at Tshino Primary School in Ward 5, Tsholotsho District, along the Tsholotsho–Sipepa road.

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The global day, observed annually, aims to promote a culture of disaster risk awareness and highlight efforts to reduce vulnerability and build resilience in communities.

Speaking to VicFallsLive, Civil Protection Unit Director Nathan Nkomo said this year’s commemoration holds special significance for Tsholotsho, a district that has long struggled with recurrent flooding.

“The whole issue is to reduce, not to increase the occurrence of disasters. And by commemorating, that’s where we share ideas with other people,” Nkomo said.

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He noted that Tsholotsho’s selection as the national host was deliberate, following the successful relocation of families who were affected by flooding at the confluence of the Gwai and Shashani rivers.

“It’s not by accident that we are commemorating in Tsholotsho. We have built 305 houses for people who were affected in the Spepa area, and we will be celebrating in style because we have managed to relocate them,” he said.

“Now we no longer hear of people being flooded in Tsholotsho because of that relocation. So, we will be celebrating in style for Tshini and Sawudweni.”

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The relocations, carried out under government’s disaster recovery and housing programs, have been hailed as a success story in proactive disaster risk management.

Looking ahead to the cyclone season, Nkomo said funding remains the major challenge in preparedness and response.

“We cannot preempt to say there are challenges yet, but historically, since we’ve dealt with COVID-19 and Cyclone Idai, the issue of funds has always been critical,” he said.

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“This year, we are dealing with cyclones at a time when even our development partners have dwindling resources. So, funding will take centre stage in our deliberations, to see how best we can respond with the little we have. The whole idea, when you go to war, is not the question of numbers, but of strategy and how to win.”

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed globally every October 13, but Zimbabwe’s national commemorations are being held later this year to align with local preparedness programs and community-based activities.

 

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ZimParks to host first-ever International Wildlife Conservation symposium

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) will hold its inaugural International Wildlife Conservation Symposium under the theme “Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Development.”

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The two-day event, scheduled for October 22 to 23, next week, will take place at the Management Training Bureau in Msasa, Harare. It will bring together conservationists, researchers, policymakers, and students to discuss key issues around wildlife protection and sustainable development.

The symposium will focus on eight sub-themes, namely Wildlife Conservation and Transboundary Management, Freshwater, Fisheries and Aquatic Management, Sustainable Tourism and Socio-Economic Development, Human-Wildlife Interactions, Environmental Health and Safety, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Community-Based Natural Resource Management, and Natural Resource Policy and Governance.

ZimParks says the symposium will provide a platform to exchange ideas and deepen understanding of the link between wildlife conservation and sustainable development. Members of the public, students, and professionals are encouraged to attend.

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591 rangers killed in Africa — New report warns of urgent need for Better Protection

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

At least 591 rangers were killed in Africa between 2006 and 2021, making the continent the deadliest place in the world for those on the frontline of protecting wildlife. This stark statistic was revealed by conservation charity Tusk in a press statement issued to mark World Ranger Day, warning that without urgent reforms, more lives will be lost — and Africa’s biodiversity will pay the price.

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“Being a ranger extends far beyond conservation. You are educators, community leaders, researchers, mentors and protectors of cultural and historical heritage, yet this remains one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth,” said Prince William, Tusk’s Royal Patron, in a video message to rangers.

Despite their sacrifices, fewer than 40% of rangers worldwide have access to life insurance, and only 63% receive basic medical services. Many are still underpaid, under-equipped, and exposed to deadly risks from armed poachers, human-wildlife conflict, and hazardous terrain.

Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk, said: “Too many rangers risk their lives without even the most basic protection. If we are serious about delivering the global biodiversity targets, we must further professionalise the ranger role – with insurance, fair pay, and recognition – so that it becomes a career young Africans aspire to join.”

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The White Paper, Protecting Rangers to Protect Nature, stresses that Africa currently has just 65,000 active rangers — far short of the 345,000 needed to meet international biodiversity targets, including the 30×30 goal to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030.

Louise de Bruin, CEO of the Game Rangers Association of Africa, added: “Our priority is to stand with rangers on the ground and support the organisations that employ them. The RWSI gives us a practical way to listen to rangers, assess their needs, and work alongside partners to improve welfare standards.”

The statement calls for governments, donors, and conservation organisations to embed reforms through the Ranger Welfare and Standards Initiative, launched last year. Measures include affordable insurance, professional training, fair pay, and continent-wide emergency systems to ensure no ranger is left vulnerable.

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Senior ranger Benson Kanyembo from Zambia captured the human cost: “Ranger recruitment is low because the job, as it stands, is not attractive enough. Rangers face extreme personal risk while their families live one accident or illness away from destitution. This is not acceptable.”

The report concludes that protecting rangers is inseparable from protecting nature. Without them, Africa risks losing not only its iconic elephants, rhinos, and lions — but also the ecosystems that provide food, water, and livelihoods for millions.

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