Connect with us

Slider

Hwange giraffes set to be tracked using solar-powered GPS

Published

on

BY BAMUTURAKI MUSINGUZI

In June, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) in collaboration with the Namibian-based NGO Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) embarked on an innovative operation of fitting solar-powered GPS satellite tags on 14 Southern giraffes at the Hwange National Park.

Advertisement

Conservation managers and researchers can now follow the movements of these giraffes online from anywhere in the world as they move within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) landscape.

This tagging exercise was the first of its kind in Hwange National Park and created the perfect platform for building local capacity in Zimbabwe by training park rangers and conservation officials in best practice giraffe capture techniques.

As part of their Africa-wide Twiga Tracker Initiative, GCF follows and analyses the movements of all four giraffe species in 10 African countries.

Advertisement

Data from this groundbreaking study will contribute to this important initiative and ultimately inform giraffe conservation actions locally and throughout the continent.

“We are excited to follow these giraffes online and find out more about where they go and what they do,” says Daphine Madhlamoto, acting principal ecologist at ZimParks.

Data from these innovative GPS units will help improve the conservationists’ understanding of giraffe movements and habitat requirements throughout this landscape.

Advertisement

GCF recently facilitated the development of the first-ever KAZA-wide Giraffe Conservation Strategy during a collaborative workshop with representatives of all five partner states and local conservation partners.

It is awaiting final approval and will soon guide giraffe conservation efforts in this critical landscape which collectively supports 10 percent of Africa’s wild giraffe population

For Zimbabwe, the data is anticipated to help build a baseline for a proposed development of a National Giraffe Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for the country.

Advertisement

Over the past three years, GCF in collaboration with ZimParks and local conservation partners have already collated a detailed estimate of giraffe numbers, established their range and started to assess their taxonomic status.

“Conservation cannot happen in isolation. Only when all partners come together can we reach the best outcomes for giraffe conservation in Zimbabwe,” says  Julian Fennessy, director of conservation at GCF.

According to GCF, there are only about 117,000 giraffes remaining in Africa and there is still a lot to learn about their movements and how they use their habitat. – Monitor

Advertisement

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Slider

ZimParks salutes brave rangers on World Ranger Day

Published

on

BY STAFF REPORTER 

Today marks World Rangers Day, a commemoration of the critical work that rangers do in protecting the world’s wildlife and natural resources. The day is significant as it recognizes the bravery, dedication, and sacrifices made by rangers who often put their lives on the line to safeguard the environment and conservation efforts.

Advertisement

In commemoration of World Rangers Day, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has issued a statement. Below is the full statement:

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) joins the rest of the world in recognizing the work of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line in protection of wildlife.
It is also a day to remember those who have lost their lives in line of duty and some who are still missing to date.

This year’s theme, “Rangers,Powering
Transformative Conservation,” speaks to the important role Rangers play, not only as protectors of wildlife but also as leaders who bring change and help shape the future of conservation.

Advertisement

From patrolling wildlife protected areas and stopping poachers to working with local communities and educating the public, Rangers are at the heart of everything we do to look after our wildlife heritage for current and future generations.

Rangers work across vast landscapes and often spend weeks in the bush facing dangerous conditions, tough weather, and limited resources but despite these challenges, they carry on with strength and dedication, knowing that their work makes a difference.

We believe that by investing in our Rangers, we are investing in the future of conservation in Zimbabwe.
As we mark this important day, we say thank you to all our Rangers. Your courage, passion, and commitment inspire us every day, you are the backbone of conservation, and we stand with you.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

National

Malaria cases surge in Zimbabwe

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe is experiencing a dramatic surge in malaria cases, with 111 998 cases and 310 deaths reported as of epidemiological week 23 in 2025.

Advertisement

This is a significant increase from the same period in 2024, which saw 29 031 cases and 49 deaths.

According to Dr Memory Mapfumo, an epidemiologist at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), “This surge is no coincidence. Prolonged rains have fueled mosquito breeding, while activities like gold panning, fishing, and artisanal mining are exposing more individuals to risk, especially during peak mosquito activity hours.”

The situation is worsened by the low use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), leaving communities exposed and placing further strain on already stretched health systems. Across Zimbabwe, 115 out of 1 705 health facilities have been affected, highlighting the widespread impact of the disease on healthcare infrastructure.

Advertisement

Mashonaland Central Province has accounted for 32% of all malaria cases, while Manicaland reported 25% of the malaria-related deaths. The interconnectedness of the countries in the region has also contributed to the spread of the disease.

Zimbabwe’s malaria outbreak is part of a broader regional trend. Other countries in southern Africa, including Botswana, eSwatini, and Namibia, are also experiencing significant increases in malaria cases.

In Botswana, 2 223 cases and 11 deaths have been reported, with Okavango being the hardest hit. eSwatini has recorded 187 cases, with children under 15 and farmers being particularly affected. Namibia has seen over 89 959 cases and 146 deaths, with the majority of cases being local transmissions.

Advertisement

The Africa CDC emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and investment in malaria control. Governments must enhance their efforts to improve the use of ITNs, strengthen community engagement, and address environmental and social factors driving the outbreaks.

Dr Merawi Aragaw, head of Africa CDC’s Surveillance and Disease Intelligence, notes that “as climate change accelerates, we are witnessing shifts in temperature and rainfall that are expanding the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, introducing vectors into previously unaffected regions.”

According to Dr Aragaw, “sustained vector control measures – including environmental management, strengthening surveillance, drug and diagnostic resistance monitoring, and fostering cross-border collaboration – will be critical in mitigating the growing threat of vector-borne diseases, especially malaria.”

Advertisement

The regional surge underscores a broader global trend, with malaria cases worldwide climbing to 263 million in 2023, up from 252 million the previous year, and Africa accounting for 95% of all malaria-related deaths.

Despite these alarming figures, there have been significant successes: Cabo Verde was certified malaria-free in 2023, and Egypt is poised to achieve the same in 2024. Yet for many countries in southern Africa, the road to elimination remains steep, with outbreaks threatening to reverse years of progress.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

National

Government unveils plan to curb road accidents

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, has outlined a series of measures to combat the rising tide of road traffic accidents in the country.

Advertisement

Zimbabwe has been witnessing a worrying surge in road traffic accidents, with the latest incident claiming 17 lives last week, along Seke road.

Yesterday, Muswere addressed the cabinet, outlining measures to curb road traffic accidents. Below is his statement, word for word:

“So capacitation of the vehicle inspection is ongoing and the sourcing of the vehicle inspection department. Compliance to legislation is also one of the parameters that we are utilising.Standardisation in terms of driving schools, the training of drivers, speed limits as a governance to traffic monitoring, the utilisation of traffic management, the utilisation of cameras for number plate recognition and facial recognition in order to curb over speeding and traffic offences. The capacitation of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in order to apprehend and also deal with traffic offences. Legislation amendments that are taking place in order to ensure that our roads are safe. As the minister (Felix Mhona) has also highlighted that the Civil Protection Unit is being capacitated in order to deal with the challenges that we might not have been able to deal with as part of an architecture under the hall of government approach.”

Advertisement

Background statistics from the Zimbabwe Republic Police reveal a concerning trend. During the first six months of 2025, the country recorded 28 159 road traffic accidents, up from 25 968 in the same period last year. Fatal crashes also increased by 11% from 784 to 870, while road deaths rose by 4.9% from 1 037 to 1 088. The majority of accidents occur in known danger zones, often due to commuter congestion and erratic driving by public transport operators.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 VicFallsLive. All rights reserved, powered by Advantage