July
31 July – Air Force Killing Protected Wildlife… Men in army uniform carrying AK47s were spotted in an area where a kudu bull was shot, according to a report from the Midlands Black Rhino Conservancy. From: The Zimbabwean
Useful tips: 20 Tips for Planning a Successful African Safari Vacation
30 July – Straight Bloody Slaughter… Wildlife traffickers are laundering hunting permits to smuggle rhinoceros horns to the Far East for use in medicinal potions. Conservationists say the illicit trade is linked to organised criminal syndicates and has seen hundreds of horns smuggled out of South Africa in recent years. It has caused an increase in rhino-poaching incidents, leading to renewed concerns about the survival of the species. From: Mail & Guardian (South Africa)
30 July – Zimbabwe: A Cry for the Environment… Zimbabwe, which currently faces seemingly intractable social, political and economic problems, has some of the worst environmental indicators in the world with ecosystems either in decline or under severe threat. From: EcoWorldy
29 July – Red Locusts Not Yet a Threat to the Country… Swarms of red locusts observed in some parts of the country are not yet a threat to agriculture in Zimbabwe because of the cold weather but Government is monitoring their movement. Chief entomologist in the Department of Plant Protection Dr Godfrey Chikwenhere confirmed yesterday that they had tracked the swarms in Mt Darwin and Banket. From: AllAfrica.com
29 July – Our Elephants at Risk as China Profits from Ivory… The decision by a global arbiter on endangered species to allow China to import backlog stock of ivory from Africa may be the death knell for Kenyan elephants. The lives of the country’s more than 40,000 elephants spread across national parks is now on the line. Sitting in Geneva, Switzerland, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) ruled that China and Japan would buy 108 tonnes of ivory stocks in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Namibia. From: The Standard
26 July – Q&A “We Need Policies That Address Climate Change”… IPS recently interviewed Washington Zhakata, the National Coordinator of the Climate Change Awareness Programme at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism about the science behind extreme weather conditions in Zimababwe, and how changing rainfall patterns may affect water security in the region. From: Inter Press Service
25 July – The Malilangwe Trust of Zimbabwe… Not all news out of Zimbabwe is dire and grim. The Malilangwe Trust is a rare Zimbabwe success story. The Malilangwe Trust was established in 1994 in southeastern Zimbabwe as a wildlife preserve. The entire 400 square kilometer area is largely fenced in. Here is some background on the Malilangwe Trust from Travel Africa. From: By The Fault
Food for though: The Forest Products Industry
23 July – Warder Shotos Himself… A 22-year-old National Parks and Wildlife management warder, stationed at White Water National Park in Matobo District, died after shooting himself with his service rifle following a run-in with the police over poaching of a rhinoceros. From: The Herald (Harare)
20 July – Poachers Terrorise Zimbabwe’s Rhinos…The game scouts looking for a black rhinoceros wounded by poachers in Zimbabwe’s Save Valley Conservancy could hear her snoring but could not see her through the long grass. Eventually, by making a lot of noise, they forced the rhino to stand up and were greeted by a sight so appalling that it took them a few moments to realise what they were looking at. Sign a petition against the trade in black rhino horn. From: Times Online (UK) [Ed. Although this is strongly political article and should be read with a big pinch of salt, the issue deserves to be discussed]
18 July – China Illegal Ivory Trade Defended… Commenting on a non-governmental organization report critical of China’s program, Liu Jianchao called it “unfair” and said it twists facts, the state-run news agency Xinhua reported.A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected criticism of his government’s fight against illegal ivory trade. From: United Press International
18 July – China Cleared for Ivory Purchase… Namibia is happy that the UN body charged with monitoring trade in endangered species has approved China’s plea to buy more than 100 tons of elephant ivory from four Southern African countries, the Director of Scientific Services in the Ministry of Environment told The Namibian yesterday. From: AllAfrica.com
And a couple of blogs worth reading: HEC Today and Born Free Foundation Blog
17 July – Zimbabwe to Benefit from Legal Ivory Trade… ZIMBABWE is set to benefit from the sale of ivory to China as the United Nations’ Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) has allowed the country to sell elephant ivory in a one-off trade, skirting a ban on dealing in the product until 2016. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
16 July – Tourism Sector Embarks on Recovery Path… THE tourism sector should brace for an imminent increase in tourist arrivals as the industry embarks on a recovery path, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Cde Francis Nhema, has said. There has been an increase in arrivals in Victoria Falls, a development attributed to the fact that the country is peaceful and has world-class attractions. From: AllAfrica.com
16 July – Parks Authority Embarks on Animal Census…The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (PWMA) has embarked on a programme to establish the population of animal species in the country by having the information from stakeholders in the hunting industry. The Parks Authority public relations manager, Retired Major Edward Mbewe said stakeholders from the hunting industry would meet in various provinces this week to provide information on aspects of wildlife. From: AllAfrica.com
16 July – Irish Vet Snaps Up Work in Zimbabwe…He’s been dubbed Crocodile Donegal. A vet from Letterkenny has become a consultant working for the largest crocodile farm in the world. And to add to the challenge facing Gerald Roarty, the farm is located in troubled Zimbabwe, where economic and political conditions are dire. From: Independant (Ireland)
16 July – Chinese Trio Arrested with Elephant Tusks… Three Chinese nationals have been arrested in Nairobi while trying to smuggle out processed ivory through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, authorities say. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed in a statement that its officers working with counterparts from the Kenya Airports Authority have arrested three Chinese nationals – two women and a man – with 2.2 kilograms of processed ivory at the airport. From: Daily Nation / Nationmedia.com
16 July – Why Should Zimbabwe’s Government Profit from Ivory? … News broke last night that China will be allowed to buy legal African stocks of ivory in a one-off sale. The announcement was criticised by conservation groups – including the International Fund for Animal Welfare – who fear that China’s poor record in controlling the ivory trade could open the doors to illegal elephant poaching. From: New Scientist [Ed. This article asks some very valid questions which the CITES does not appear to have taken into consideration while making its decision]
16 July – Ivory Sales Get the Go-Ahead…Today, the CITES Standing Committee (which oversees the implementation of CITES between the major conferences) has given the go-ahead to the one-off sale of ivory that was agreed in principle in June 2007. Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are now authorized to make a single sale of a total of 108 tons of government-owned ivory. The following quantities of raw ivory have been approved: Botswana: 43,682.91 kg, Namibia: 9,209.68 kg, South Africa: 51,121.8 kg, and Zimbabwe: 3,755.55 kg. From: CITES
16 July – Return of Ivory Trade as Britain Backs China… China was given permission to become a licensed buyer of ivory yesterday, provoking widespread condemnation from environmentalists and politicians, who said the move was a grave threat to the future of wild elephants in Africa and Asia. From: The Independant (UK)
16 July – China Gets Permission to Import Ivory from Africa… China won the right at a U.N. wildlife meeting on Tuesday to import elephant ivory from Africa under strict conditions, a U.N. spokesman said. Four countries — Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe — are permitted under a deal reached at The Hague last year to make one-off sales of registered ivory stocks. From: Reuters Africa
16 July – State Welcomes CITES Ivory Sale Decision… The government on Wednesday welcomed a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) standing committee decision that will allow it to sell 51 tons of elephant ivory to China. At a meeting in Geneva this week, the Cites committee approved China as a fit buyer for 108 tons of ivory put up for sale by South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.”South Africa has today welcomed the decision taken by the Cites standing committee… giving the go ahead to the once-off sale of ivory that was agreed in principle in June 2007,” the department of environmental affairs said in a statement.
16 July – Geneva Meeting Grants China Right to Bid on African Ivory… China will join Japan in a one-off auction of African elephant ivory, the Standing Committee of Cites announced Tuesday. Cites is an agreementamong governments: the International Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Its Standing Committee is the body that oversees implementation of the convention. The group is meeting 14-18 July in Geneva. From: GenevaLunch [Ed. This article provides many links to other related articles on the elephant ivory issue]
15 July – SAfrica Activists Furious Over China Ivory Auction Deal… South African animal rights activists reacted furiously on Wednesday after a decision to allow China to import ivory from the region, saying it spells disaster for African elephants. China, one of the world’s biggest consumers of elephant ivory, will be allowed to import 51 tonnes of ivory from South Africa after a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) decision licensed the country as an ivory buyer on Tuesday. From: AFP
15 July – China Allowed to Buy Ivory from Africa… China is to be allowed to buy ivory from African countries in a move which has infuriated conservation groups. They say granting China permission to import ivory amounted to a death sentence on African elephants because it would fuel demand and encourage poaching. The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Geneva voted in favour of China becoming a licensed importer. Britain was one of nine countries which supported the move. It will allow China to bid for more than 100 tonnes of ivory stockpiled in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe through culling and natural deaths. From: The Telegraph (UK)
15 July – China Approved for Controlled Ivory Imports from Africa… China has been approved as a buyer of legally stockpiled African elephant ivory under strict conditions. The decision was made today at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. From: Market Watch / Business Wire / World Wildlife Fund (US)
Interesting project at the Pulitzer Center: Zimbabwe – Human Conflict / Environmental Consequences
14 July – The Kilimanjaro Guide and Porter Fraternity: The Facts Behind the Scenes… The term eco-tourism tends to evoke images of enlightened travelers treading lightly and reverently among the surviving cathedrals of nature. Through the particulars of any given ecology they are guided by a local clone of Crocodile Dundee or Steve Irwin, who, with deep local insight, extol the intricacies and reveal the treasures buried far beyond the reach of the naked eye. From: Mt Kilimanjaro Logue [Ed. This article refers to the CAMPFIRE programme as a pioneering example of eco-tourism]
14 July – Land of the Ancients… In focusing on the wildlife our country has promoted some of the world’s most amazing wildlife artists which have in turn promoted Zimbabwe. From: Zimbabwe Guardian – London, England,UK14 July - International wildlife trade to be reviewed with UN help… The trade in elephants, rhinos, tigers and mahogany will all be the focus of this week’s meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva, whose secretariat is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). From: UN News Centre
14 July – Small-scale Miners Call for Consultation Fees Regulation… SMALL-SCALE miners have called on the Government to intervene and regulate fees charged by consultant companies that carry out Environmental Impact Assessments, a prerequisite for granting a mining licence to small scale miners. From: All Africa Zimbabwe
13 July – Illegal Ivory Network Rocks Botswana… Botswana and South African police are investigating local elephant poachers believed to be linked to “international organized crime which run sophisticated trafficking networks.” Detective superintendent Monthusi Ben of the Criminal Investigation Department confirmed this week that they are following leads that may lead to the arrest of a criminal syndicate that specializes in illegal ivory. From: Sunday Standard (Botswana) [Ed. While the article does not refer to Zimbabwe directly, it has clear impacts on the resident elephant population]
12 July – Return of the Ivory Trade… The world trade in ivory, banned 19 years ago to save the African elephant from extinction, is about to take off again, with the emergence of China as a major ivory buyer. Alarmed conservationists are warning of a new wave of elephant killing across both Africa and Asia if China is allowed to become a legal importer, as looks likely at a meeting in Geneva next week. From: The Independant (UK)
9 July – Poaching on the Decrease… Poaching has decreased in many of Zimbabwe’s conservancies as government has taken a zero tolerance approach to dealing with poachers in the country. An official of Wildlife & Environment Zimbabwe who spoke to the Zimbabwe Guardian expressed that the government had taken firm measures to ensure that endangered species are protected, indigenous forests and wildlife habitats protected. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
9 July – Zimbabwe: Hungry Zanu PF Militias Poach Wildlife to Survive… An environmental catastrophe is looming in most wildlife protected areas in Matabeleland North due to an upsurge in poaching activities by Zanu PF militias camped at bases throughout the province, it has been learnt. This has prompted warnings by a prominent conservationist that cases of poaching, which skyrocketed following the chaotic land reform programme, will result in most wildlife species becoming extinct if left unchecked. From: It’s About ASo LIfe and Production House (blog)
7 July – Imire School Holiday Bush Camps Resume After Park Reopens… IMIRE Game Park in Wedza is once again hosting a bush camp for all kids between 6 and 12 years of age in the holidays from the 25th -28th August. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
6 July – Animals Pay the Price of Life in Zim… Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife rehabilitation park is under threat of closure as management struggles to find funding and food for its 220 animals. Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage, which is home to injured and orphaned animals, this week barely had enough meat for its 32 lions, seven leopards, a pack of wild dogs and hyaenas. From: The Times
6 July – Zimbabwe Conservationists Predict “Catastrophe” Over Upsurge in Poaching… An environmental catastrophe is looming in most wildlife protected areas in Matabeleland North due to an upsurge in poaching activities by ZANU-PF [Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front] militias camped at bases throughout the province, it has been learnt. This has prompted warnings by a prominent conservationist that cases of poaching, which skyrocketed following the chaotic land reform programme, will result in most wildlife species becoming extinct if left unchecked. From: Originally published by The Standard (Harare, 5 July)
3 July – Imire Situation Diffused… It is with great relief and pleasure that we announce that the invasion of Imire Safari Ranch has been prevented for the time being. From: The Zimbabwean
3 July – Imire Safari Ranch Invaded… Many years ago, Imire Safari Ranch was designated by National Parks and the government as a black rhino breeding area and for this reason, it is one of the few places in Zimbabwe that still has wildlife. John and Judy Travers have devoted the best part of their lives to caring for these animals and have played a very important role in the preservation of the endangered black rhino in Zimbabwe. From: Flame Lily News and Views
3 July – War Vets Invade Farms… A gang of about 16 so-called war vets descended on Imire Safari Ranch in Wedza on Wednesday night and ordered owner John Travers to vacate the property by Thursday morning. Travers and his wife Judy were threatened with death if they refused to comply. Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said the Travers’ are still on their property and are trying to negotiate with the Minister of Tourism Francis Nhema, to save the ranch. From: AllAfrica.com
2 July – Population Increase Recorded for Rhinos in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld Despite Poaching… The Population of black rhinos in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld area continues to increase, despite setbacks to conservation efforts due to rampant poaching. From: WWF Africa
