Tourism and Environment

No elephant poaching in Hwange for one year

Published

4 years ago

August 31, 2021

BY DAVID OCHIENG MBEWA

Efforts to conserve elephants at the Hwange National Park are bearing fruit following strategic partnerships formed in the last couple of years, the government minister has said.

Tourism and Environment minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said there had been no cases of poaching in the area for the past one year due to such cooperation which includes partnerships with a United States based conservancy, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), security services and local communities.

IFAW signed a five-year partnership deal with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) in September 2019 and has committed US$1 million to various causes to strengthen conservation.

These include road rehabilitation, training and equipment of rangers, workshop upgrades, procurement of vehicles, establishment of a veterinary lab and construction of a new administrative facility.

The facility, Makona Camp, is expected to boost the presence of wildlife rangers in the park’s southern side and improve relations between ZimParks and neighbouring communities.

This in turn will help address incidents of poaching and human-wildlife conflict.

Ndlovu welcomed such partnerships saying they were exactly the boost the tourism needed during such a period of decline brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We agreed to have a camp here where we can have rangers and create a proper communication,” he said.

“They have come to the party and we are seeing today, that almost two years down the line, that this partnership is bearing fruits and we understand that there has literally been no poaching in this area when we are coming from an era where he had all those elephants dying from cyanide.”

In September 2013, dozens of elephants were killed for their ivory by poachers who used cyanide to poison a water hole in the park.

In 2018, at least four elephants died from cyanide poisoning as poachers capitalised on a drought to contaminate the remaining scarce water sources. – CTGN

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Renowned conservationist Alan Elliott passes away at 86

Published

1 day ago

August 1, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The conservation world is mourning the loss of Alan Elliott, a pioneering conservationist and tourism operator who passed away this morning around 2AM at Materdei Hospital in Bulawayo.

Elliott, affectionately known as “Mandebele,” was 86 years old.

Photo by Charlene Hewat

Elliott’s contributions to conservation and tourism in Zimbabwe are immeasurable. He was one of the first people to bring tourism to Hwange, Zimbabwe’s largest national park, and founded Touch the Wild, a tourism operation that hosted numerous celebrities, including the Queen and Prince Philip.

We then contacted Charlene Hewat, a close associate of Elliott’s Presidential Elephant Research Trust (PERT), to explain further about his conservation work. Hewat described Elliott as an extraordinary conservationist who dedicated his life to protecting elephants. “Alan’s legacy is imprinted on the wild landscapes he loved so dearly and protected so fiercely,” Hewat said in a Facebook post.

In an interview, Hewat elaborated on Elliott’s work, highlighting his efforts to protect elephants in Hwange. “He went and got a decree from President (Robert) Mugabe to protect the presidential elephants, and he received that decree, and they agreed that they would not shoot any elephants within the Dete Hwange area,” Hewat explained.

Elliott’s passing has sent shockwaves throughout the conservation community, with many paying tribute to his remarkable legacy. “He’s a legend. Everybody knows him,” Hewat said. “He was an MP in Hwange, spoke fluent Ndebele, and knew a lot of the ministers. He’s just an amazing man, a legend for Zimbabwe.”

As a testament to his enduring legacy, Elliott had asked Hewat to carry on his work with the Presidential Elephant Research Trust. “It was his vision to promote young Zimbabwean researchers, and that’s something that I share and think we can take forward for the country and for the youth,” Hewat said.

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UPDATE: ZimParks rangers injured in elephant attack receiving medical treatment

Published

1 day ago

August 1, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo has provided an update on the condition of two rangers who were injured earlier this week by elephants in the Sengwa, Chirisa Safari area.

The rangers, who were investigating a reported case of a snared buffalo, encountered a herd of elephants with calves that charged at them.

According to the update, one of the rangers has undergone treatment for his left arm and is currently in a stable condition.

The other ranger had a successful abdominal operation and is currently receiving surgery for his broken left arm and left leg.

The incident highlights the dangers faced by wildlife rangers in Zimbabwe. In a similar incident in March 2025, a Zimparks ranger was killed by an elephant in Kariba during a routine patrol in the Gatche-gatche area.

The authority has encouraged people to minimize movements at night to reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflicts.

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ZimParks salutes brave rangers on World Ranger Day

Published

2 days ago

July 31, 2025

VicFallsLive

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.

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.

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.