Tourism and Environment

Zimbabwe says its elephants becoming a danger to themselves

Published

4 years ago

November 11, 2021

BY TICHAONA CHIFAMBA

Zimbabwe’s elephants are slowly becoming a danger unto themselves as they continue to destroy their own habitat as well as that of other wild animals, a wildlife official has said.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said the situation was becoming untenable in areas such as Hwange in western Zimbabwe where huge swathes of vegetation were being lost to the growing elephant population.

Zimbabwe’s elephant population is estimated to be more than 100 000, more than double its ecological carrying capacity of about 45 000, according to conservationists.

It boasts of about a quarter of the continent’s elephant population and the second-highest in the world after Botswana.

This is due to the country’s robust conservation measures which have protected the critically endangered species.

But such measures are now literally coming back to haunt the authorities as the habitats can no longer sustain the growing numbers.

“The elephants are slowly becoming a danger unto themselves. They are destroying their habitat and that of other animals. Go to Hwange National Park and you will think that someone has been deliberately razing down the trees,” he told Xinhua.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said in May 2021 that the government was considering culling the elephants to save the habitat.

However, some international conservationists have frowned upon the idea.

Farawo said these conservationists should leave their offices abroad and come to Zimbabwe to see what is prevailing on the ground.

To sustain its conservation efforts, Zimbabwe also wants to raise funds through the sale of ivory, but the conservationists fear that this will open floodgates for poaching.

“We’re battling an ever-increasing population of animals. They can come and see for themselves how our people are coping. We must be allowed to benefit from our resources. These are the issues we have to deal with,” he said.

The country last culled elephants in 1988 and continues to have stockpiles of ivory which it cannot sell because of restrictions from the Convention on International Trade in Endangers Species (CITES).

President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019 implored CITES to allow it to sell its $600-million worth ivory stockpile, but the plea fell on deaf ears, prompting the country to consider pulling out of the convention.

Another option to deal with over-population would be to translocate some of the elephants from densely populated parks to those which can sustain higher populations.

However, the exercise is costly and given that there are other conflicting social needs in society, funding for such an exercise would be difficult to find, Farawo said.

“The last time we carried out such a translocation of 100 elephants it cost us about half a million US dollars,” he said.

Apart from the destruction of habitat, elephants are also leading in incidences of human and wildlife conflict.

Farawo said almost 60 people had died from such conflicts since the beginning of 2021, with elephants and crocodiles accounting for more than 90 percent of the cases.

He warned that the situation could get worst at this time of the year because the elephants would move out of their natural habitat in search of water and food.

“We are at the peak of the dry season and elephants stray into nearby communities. Interaction with them in such cases can be fatal,” he said. –Xinhua

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Victoria Falls airport handles over 460 000 passengers in 2025

Published

7 days ago

November 10, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Passenger traffic through Victoria Falls International Airport has continued its upward trend this year, with the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) reporting a total of 463 848 passengers handled between January and September 2025.

This marks a 13.57 percent increase from the 408 436 passengers recorded over the same period in 2024.

According to ACZ, the rise shows sustained growth in travel activity through one of Zimbabwe’s busiest tourism gateways.

“Victoria Falls International Airport handled a total of 463 848 passengers in the months under review (January – September 2025) compared to 408 436 passengers for the same period in 2024, representing a 13.57 percent increase in passenger traffic,” said the Airports Company of Zimbabwe in a statement accompanying the report.

The cumulative data shows that passenger numbers have been rising steadily each month since April, with August 2025 recording the highest monthly total of 70 080 passengers, followed by July (62 532) and September (64 209).

In 2024, the same months recorded 59 033, 54 247, and 56 582 passengers respectively.

The figures underline a positive recovery pattern for the airport since the pandemic years, when total annual passenger traffic had dropped to just 64 202 in 2020 and 129 914 in 2021.

ACZ said it will continue to release detailed passenger traffic reports for other airports across Zimbabwe as part of its ongoing transparency and performance updates.

“Following up on our prior cumulative report, we continue releasing detailed annual passenger traffic reports for each Zimbabwean airport. Stay connected to ACZ for the upcoming statistics,” the company said.

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Orphaned elephant calf rescued near Victoria Falls finds new family

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A young elephant calf has been rescued after being found alone in Zambezi National Park, near Victoria Falls.

According to Wild is Life – Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery, the calf was discovered wandering through Chambonda, looking weak and dehydrated.

“Two weeks ago, a small elephant calf was spotted wandering alone through Chambonda, in Zambezi National Park near Victoria Falls.

Thin. Dehydrated. Struggling to keep up with passing herds.

He had lost his mother – still just 18 months old, still of milk-drinking age, still far too young to survive alone. Elephant mothers never willingly abandon their calves. When a little one is alone, it almost always means tragedy.”

The team said things got worse when the calf was later seen being chased by hyenas.

“Then came another sighting… He was being chased by a pack of hyenas.

We knew we had to act.”

Working together with ZimParks, the Forestry Commission and the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, the rescue team searched for days.

“Together with ZimParks, the Forestry Commission, and the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, our Wild is Life team began the search. For days, there was nothing – just silence, heat, and tracks fading into dust.

Then, on Wednesday… hope.”

The calf was finally found near Chambonda Tented Camp.

“The calf was found near Chambonda Tented Camp, exhausted but alive. Under the fierce 38°C sun, the teams worked quickly – darting him safely, keeping watch for predators, and lifting his small body onto a Land Cruiser for the 40-minute drive to Panda Masuie.”

The team made sure he stayed calm and safe during the journey.

“It’s no small feat to move an elephant… even a baby. The team monitored his breathing and cooled him through the rough journey. The wild herds nearby never stirred. The forest stayed calm.”

When the calf arrived at Panda Masuie, the other elephants immediately sensed him.

“Even before they could see him, the Panda Masuie herd knew.

From across the bomas came deep rumbles and trumpets – the elephants announcing that a new life had joined their family.”

The post described a moving scene of welcome and care.

“When the calf awoke, Norah and Annabelle rushed to his side – trunks reaching, touching, comforting. The welcome lasted twenty minutes – a chorus of excitement and tenderness.

That night, Norah, Annabelle, Summer, and Maggie refused to leave him. They checked on him constantly, standing guard as he slept on his feet, still uncertain, still grieving.”

By the next morning, the little elephant was surrounded with love and safety.

“By morning, Moyo and her herd surrounded him with quiet care. And today, under the gentle patience of Paradzai, our most experienced Carer… He finally took his first full bottle of milk.

A moment of pure joy. A sign that trust has been found and strength will follow.”

Wild is Life shared a video of the elephants welcoming the calf, saying:

“Make sure to swipe to see the incredible video of the elephants welcoming the new baby 😍🐘 you may be moved to tears!”

National

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

Published

4 weeks ago

October 20, 2025

VicFallsLive

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.

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.

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.”

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.

“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.