2008 Archives
These pages have been compiled from various news reports around the world relevant to conservation, wildlife and environment in Zimbabwe since the beginning of the 'Accellerated Land Redistribution' campaign in 2000.
We have been somewhat selective in the posting of these reports to avoid tedious duplication, or misinformation but if there is something we have missed please contact us. To seach for a particular story, use the search feature on the homepage.
September / October 2008
15 September - Agency Warns Against Streambank Cultivation... The Environmental Management Agency in Mashonaland East Province has warned that it will descend heavily on streambank cultivators this rainy season. The agency said it would prosecute all those found carrying out agricultural activities in wetlands or near streams and rivers. From: AllAfrica.com
11 September - Company Reviving Forest Plantations in Cities... Forestry Company of Zimbabwe has embarked on programme to revive forest plantations in the country's urban areas as it moves to re-green the cities and mitigate the effects of climate change that comes with deforestation. From: AllAfrica.com
10 September - Biomass Energy for Zimbabwe - Energy From Human and Animal Waste... According to a Herald report sometime in February 2008 the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) indicated that they were considering reviving the biogas digesters that have been lying idle at Firle and Crowborough waterworks in Harare to cut down on energy costs. From: Zimbabwe Metro (also here on The Zimababwe Times)
New website: Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management Association - The information on this website varies from Ranger biographies to scientific studies, operational tactics to management strategies and Obituaries to a live discussion forum for Association members.
9 September - Authority to Terminate 10 Gonarezhou Leases... The Parks and Wildlife Authority may terminate leases awarded to private investors who are failing to undertake strategic projects in the Gonarezhou National Park. From: AllAfrica.com
9 September - Taskforce on environment set up... Climate scientists have chosen Zimbabwe to be part of a 12-member international taskforce that will look into the issues of greenhouse gases emissions. From: ZBC News
9 September - Govt Working on New Energy Policy... Zimbabwe has the capacity to save more than 200 megawatts of energy through the efficient utilisation of available energy supplies and implementation of demand side management programmes. From: AllAfrica.com
9 September - Zinwa Increases Fines for Using Hosepipes... ZINWA has with immediate effect increased fines for using hosepipes connected to its mains in Harare from $7,50 to $10 000 for domestic consumers and $1 000 to $50 000 for commercial users. From: AllAfrica.com
6 September - Fair Water Allocation Needed... The death of four people from cholera in Chitungwiza and others in Mabvuku-Tafara last year stresses once again in the most graphic way that much better management of water supplies in Harare's metropolitan area is needed. From: AllAfrica.com
5 September - Global warming sea level rise may not be so dramatic... A new Colorado University study has pegged rise in sea levels to six feet by 2100, rather than the 20 feet feared by some scientists. Calculations were made using conservative, medium and extreme glaciological assumptions for sea rise expected from Greenland, Antarctica and smaller glaciers, the three primary contributors to sea rise. From: Zimbabwe Star
5 September - Zambezi River canoe trip: Up close and personal... You know you are on a serious African safari when, on your first morning – before you have actually set out – your fellow travellers sit around sipping beer and telling tales of wild animal attacks that have taken place in the recent past. From: Telegraph.co.uk
4 September - Namibian Leader Comments on Challenges in Conserving Biodiversity... President Hifikepunye Pohamba on Thursday officially opened the 2008 Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) meeting at a local hotel in the capital. Addressing delegates from 26 African countries as well as China, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA) during a breakfast meeting, Pohamba noted that Namibia has made a significant investment through the Protected Area Network (PAN), which currently covers over 14 per cent of the country's land surface area. From: Red Orbit
4 September - Timber Producers Seek New Markets... The Timber Producers Federation is considering penetrating new markets in the region to boost revenue inflows and enhance viability, an official said on Wednesday. Chief executive officer Lloyd Mubaiwa told New Ziana that broadening the market base would significantly improve revenue from the timber business, which the hyperinflationary environment in the country has not spared. From: AllAfrica.com
News from E/The Environmental Magazine: The Ethical Hunter in Africa and The Great Elephant Debate
3 September - Parks athority captures, relocates 3,7m python... The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has captured a 3,7-metre-long python at Borrodaile Farm along Hwedza Road in Marondera. The reptile was reportedly killing goats and sheep on the farm. From: The Herald
2 September - Victoria Falls coming alive again... Victoria Falls has a magic about it that all visitors experience. It almost ensures they will be drawn back to visiting one of the World's seven natural wonders. It has always been alive with energy and bustling with tourists, even in the economic circumstances that Zimbabwe is experiencing. From: The Zimbabwean
2 September - Ban on NGOs lifted... Zimbabwe has lifted the ban on some non-governmental organisations (NGOs), but aid agencies have been cautious in their response. A notice from the social welfare ministry on 29 August announced the lifting of the ban, imposed ahead of the second round of voting in the presidential ballot on 27 June for alleged political bias against the government.
1 September - Zimbabwe District Calls for Renewed Government Effort on Solar Energy... In Zimbabwe, residents of Chihota - about 50 kilometers southeast of Harare - have expressed concern about authorities' seeming lack of interest in establishing solar energy projects in their area. They say politicians should avoid making empty promises while campaigning. Instead, the residents want office-bearers to work with them to resolve the energy crisis. From: Voice of America
July / August 2008
31 August - The Ivory Trade Need Not Endanger the Elephant... The "to be or not to be" question of selling ivory has been the subject of a heated debate for 20 years now. Kenya has been leading the charge in the debate with its resounding "Not to be" answer. From: AllAfrica.com
29 August - Officials implicated in Zimbabwean rhino poaching... Concerns have been raised that some government officials might be involved in the poaching of rhinos in Zimbabwe's national parks. The local Zimbabwe Times reported that four rhinos were recently killed in Gonarezhou National Park. From: International Animal Rescue
27 August - PWMA out to curb poaching... The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has embarked on a drive to promote the sustainable utilisation of wildlife among resettled and communal farmers to curb poaching of small game in the country. From: ZBC News
27 August - Who goes on holiday to Zimbabwe?... The Foreign Office warns against all but essential travel to Zimbabwe, but according to the country's tourism chiefs, thousands of people from overseas still head there every year. So who are Zimbabwe's tourists and why do they go? From: BBC
27 August - Parks Still to Implement SADC Strategies on Elephants... The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said on Sunday it has not yet started implementing any of the 2005 recommendations of the Sadc Taskforce on strategies to control the population of elephants in the region. From: AllAfrica.com
27 August - Magic of the Tsotso Stove... According to an old adage, necessity is the mother of invention; it forces people to find alternative ways and tools. In Zimbabwe today, devising skills to survive is the norm of daily living. From: Eco Worldy
Essential reading: President Mugabe's speech to Zimbabwe's 7th Parliament
26 August - Ministers involved in poaching of rhino... Zimbabwe’s rhino species faces extinction after four animals were killed this week in the Gonarezhou National Park, bringing to 15 the number of the animals killed by suspected poachers since January. From: The Zimbabwe Times
Food for thought: Hunting - A brief comment
Animated entertainment from Animal Planet (UK) / Discovery Communications: The Animals Save the Planet
22 August - Three rhinos killed in Gonarezhou... Three black rhinoceros carcasses were found last week in a state of decomposition in the Gonarezhou National Park. Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Phibeon Nyambo confirmed receiving the reports, but said they were still carrying out investigations. From: International Rhino Foundation & The Herald (Zimbabwe)
22 August - NGO Ban Stalls Farming Preparations... Communal farmers in the Nkayi communal area who had been relying on aid from non- governmental organizations (NGOs) under the drought recovery programme, have suffered a major set back as NGO’s remain barred from conducting field work at a time land preparation is supposed to have commenced. Thousands of farmers in the district had adopted conservation farming, which was introduced by several NGO’s as an alternative to conventional farming in low rainfall ecological regions four and five. From: Radio VOP
19 August - Organisation working to conserve birds... Birdlife Zimbabwe says it has conservation programmes to save some of the threatened birds facing extinction. The organisation’s Director Dr Chipangura Chirara said most Zimbabweans are still to appreciate the value of birds in bio-diversity. From: ZBC News
19 August - Conservation farming can counteract fertiliser prices (Zambia)... As fertiliser and petrol prices zoom and threaten food production in Zambia, farmers are being urged to adopt conservation farming. The price of a 50kg bag of fertiliser has shot up from US$30 in December 2007 to $70, while the pump price of diesel has risen from $1 to about $2.80 per litre over the same period. From: Reuters and AlertNet / IRIN
18 August - 'Carry Out Regular Technological Assessments'... Industries in Zimbabwe should carry out regular technological needs assessments to ensure the type of machinery they are using is efficient and friendly to the environment, an official said on Friday. From: AllAfrica.com
18 August - Public-private partnership for Mkambati reserve... The Eastern Cape Parks Board has signed a community-driven public- private tourism concession deal, the first of its kind in the province, for its flagship Mkambati Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast. From: The Herald (South Africa)
17 August - Vital to treasure renewable resources... The world’s economic history seems poised to enter a glum phase characterised by severe food shortages, catastrophic, human-triggered climatic change, and lack of agreement on what constitutes a fair world trade system. The resultant human suffering will be borne almost entirely by economically poor and underdeveloped countries. From: The Sunday Mail
15 August - Lion Hunt Ban Still On... The ban on lion hunting is still in force despite calls by some safari operators in Matabeleland north province to have it lifted citing a marked improvement in the population of the big cats, Radio VOP has learnt. Spokesperson for the National Parks and Wild Life Management Authority, Retired Major Mbewe, told Radio VOP that the ban was still in force. From: Radio VOP
15 August - Elephant meat used to supplement income in Zimbabwe, say activists... Zimbabwe's wildlife is being decimated by the impact of its economic crisis, conservationists claimed on Thursday. Almost 2,000 elephants have been killed in and around the Hwange national park this year, the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF) claimed. It said the national parks department intended to authorise the shooting of 1,000 more by the end of the year. From: GulfNews
14 August - Urban farming in Zimbabwe... As we now approach the rainy season people are preparing their small pieces of land, or A3s as I heard someone saying, around the suburbs of our cities. I think this is the right time for the Harare City Council to address this - the earlier the better. The council must have a clear-cut policy on urban agriculture that takes into consideration the need to conserve the environment while acknowledging the contribution urban farming makes towards household food security. From: Kubatana.net
14 August - Sanganayi Zimbabwe to Showcase Best of Tourism... For the first time since 1981, the Zimbabwe Travel Exposition, or Travel Expo to many, promises to be the biggest and most fruitful this year after the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority moved the premier travel showcase to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds. From: AllAfrica.com
14 August - Campfire embarks on fire management programmes... The Campfire Association says it is working with people in the rural and remote parts of the country in the protection of ecotourism sites especially at a time when most forests are being ravaged by bush fires. From: ZBCNews
14 August - Impoverished Zimbabweans are killing elephants, claim activists... Elephants in Zimbabwe are being shot and eaten as wildlife is decimated by the impact of the country's economic crisis, activists claimed today. From: Telegraph (UK)
14 August - Sanganayi Zimbabwe to Showcase Best of Tourism... For the first time since 1981, the Zimbabwe Travel Exposition, or Travel Expo to many, promises to be the biggest and most fruitful this year after the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority moved the premier travel showcase to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds. From: AllAfrica.com
13 August - National Parks Authorize Shooting of Elephants... In the past week, we have received numerous very disturbing reports from tourists and locals alike regarding the wholesale killing of wildlife, in particular, elephants. From: SouthAfricull
12 August - EU ready to assist Zimbabwe agriculture recover in event of 'acceptable' political settlement... Excerpts of a recent speech to the 2008 Annual Congress of the Commerical Farmers Union by Xavier Marchal, E.U. Ambassador to Zimbabwe: It is the third time that I am honoured by addressing your annual Congress. Indeed a tradition now, going with the deep commitment of the European Commission towards land and agriculture in Zimbabwe, ever since we opened a delegation in Harare back in 1981... From: African Agriculture
12 August - Write About the Environment and Win!... The British Council in partnership with Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe (BWAZ) have launched a writing and theatre performance competition which is open to 15 to 25 year olds resident in Zimbabwe. From: The Unofungei Fungai Blog
11 August - Parks Provides Game for Heroes Festivities... The National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has given Mashonaland Central Province seven elephants and a buffalo to slaughter for this year's Heroes Day commemorations today. The organising chairperson Mr Josphat Jaji last week confirmed the donation, saying the beasts were part of their hunting quota. From: AllAfrica.com
10 August - ZTA to Promote Eco-tourism... The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is set to embark on an extensive drive to promote the country’s ecological tourism before the end of the year. From: Sunday News (IE only)
10 August - Sustainable Use of Wetlands Improves Food Security... The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has urged communities to sustainably use wetlands to enhance household food security. From: Sunday News (IE only)
8 August - The MDC's Land and Agriculture Policy... Resolving the land question once and for all to ensure that no Zimbabwean will ever go hungry again. From: PoliticsWeb
Local Zimbabwean NGO in action: SAFIRE
7 August - Harare Water Under Threat... A cocktail of impediments threatens to dry up Harare's water taps while raw sewage continues to contaminate the city's water reservoirs. The main constraints pertain to chemical costs, poor funding, an unrealistic tariff regime, frequent power cuts and a half-hearted approach to water management policies, officials say. From: AllAfrica.com
7 August - Two Indicted for Smuggling Leopard Hides Into U.S.... A federal grand jury in Denver has returned an indictment charging two individuals with smuggling the hides and a skull of two leopards into the United States in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), an international treaty that regulates international shipments of listed species, to which the United States and 172 other countries are members. The leopards allegedly were hunted and killed in South Africa illegally and then smuggled into Zimbabwe to obtain false CITES permits. From: PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX (The Wall Street Journal - Market Watch)
Resource tool: A review of tools for incorporating community knowledge, preferences, and values into decision making in natural resources management
6 August - Chinese Firm Cuts Deal for Chrome Mines in Zim... Chinese mining giant, China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CJIC) is to form a joint venture company with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) to mine chrome in Zimbabwe. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
5 August - EU Ready to Unlock Funds to Help Zimbabwe... The EU is holding onto its purse until there is an acceptable outcome of the current inter-party talks in South African and a legitimate government is formed Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Xavier Marchal says. From: The Zimbabwe Times
Food for thought - What Are We Doing About Climate Change (From: IRIN - UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
5 August - In Zimbabwe, Low Cost Technology Saves Poor Farmers... Most Zimbabweans - about 70 per cent of the population - live in rural areas and are engaged in smallholder agriculture. These smallholder farmers, particularly in the country’s low rainfall areas, are extremely food insecure and have little or no access to new technology. From: EcoWorldy
4 August - Tread on Biofuels Cautiously... While there is a drive by Zimbabwe and most other African countries to develop biofuels as a response to both climate change and the rising petroleum fuel import bill, agronomists and environmentalists say this must be done cautiously so as not to threaten food security and sovereignty. From: AllAfrica.com
1 August - Africa Should Tackle Climate Change... If you are one of the many Zimbabweans who do not know or do not care too much about climate change, perhaps it is time to think again. Climate change has become a global challenge and was the most contentious topic at this year’s G8 Summit held in Japan.
Food for thought: The Shona People - LIving in Harmony with the Earth
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
May/June 2008
24 June - Zoo Lion Dies... Dennis Kelly, President and CEO of Zoo Atlanta, announced Tuesday that Masai, a 18-year-old female African lion, passed away.Zoo Atlanta's animal management team had been treating the lioness's declining health since January 2008...Masai was one of three lions born on June 3, 1990, at the Chipangali Wildlife Trust, a wildlife orphanage in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. From: CBS 46 News
21 June - May God Forgive Us... This story is one of true sadness. On Wednesday 18 June 2008, I received an urgent call from The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, saying that yet another white rhino mother had been poached and had left a young orphan calf behind. Instantly Dr Astrid Huelin and I collected all the drugs and necessary equipment to address the possible situation we would encounter once we were on site. From: Zimbabwe Seven
19 June - The Environmental Consequences of Sanctions... Despite the recent discovery of vast new coal fields beneath Hwange, Zimbabwe’s largest and single coal producer, Wankie Colliery Company Ltd, is today failing to meet the high demand for its local market citing the constant breakdown of heavy-duty equipment and machinery, together with shortages of railway wagons as the major impediments, and the black gold that is the rightful inheritance of each and every Zimbabwean, instead remains suffocating beneath the surface where it will undoubtedly remain until sanctions are lifted. Thereby providing a bonus for those who will inherit the earth. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
19 June - Midlands conservancy shelved in favour of farming... The establishment of a multi-trillion Conservancy Education Centre in Kwekwe (located in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe) is clouded in uncertainty following the government’s acquisition of several farms making up the Midlands Black Rhino Conservancy. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
17 June - Black Rhino Population Rises in Africa... The International Union for Conservation of Nature (I UCN) has said that African countries tops the global list of countries with the highest population of the black rhinoceros but warned that poaching in DR Congo and Zimbabwe could drastically reduce the population of one of the world's rare mammals. IUCN said Tuesday that African rhinos had reached record numbers for the first time in decades. From: Afrique en ligne
17 June - Endangered Species Fall Prey to Poachers... The Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce (ZCT) reported Monday that there had been a worrying increase in the slaughter of wildlife in national parks since the controversial presidential and parliamentary elections in March. From: Afrik.com
16 June - Serval x Kitty = Savanna Cat... This world is a crazy place. Would you buy a Serval cross kitty for $5,000? Someone thinks this is a great money making idea and Australians are getting mad. I bet the media attention will drive up the price. What a shame that none of this money will contribute to the conservation of servals in Africa where Lisa Hywood is working under extreme conditions in Zimbabwe to protect the species. From: Baraza
16 June - View from the Village... Gwelutshena, a village in Nkayi district, south west Zimbabwe, derives its name from the famous Gwelutshena River that ran through the villages and homesteads. The river flows no more—its bed is as dry and sandy as parts of the Sahara. The children of Gwelutshena will grow up with little sense of where their community got its name from and wonder why their identity is pegged to a dried-up river. From: IUCN CEC
14 June - Helipad Endangers Tourism... The Victoria Falls rainforest along the Zambezi River could lose its place on the World Heritage Sites list, owing to business activities in the area. Ethel Mlalazi, director of the Victoria Falls Department of Physical Planning, said something needed to be done urgently to save the rainforest. From: The Zimbabwean
12 June - Update on the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area... The meeting in Zimbabwe to discuss the predator management plan for the new transfrontier conservation area, covering the corners of Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa where they meet, was highly productive. It seems that March next year is the date that we will see the fences beginning to come down, which is a huge triumph for the conservation of this region. From: Limpopo Valley Carnivores
11 June - World Must Move Towards Low Carbon Economies... DH Lawrencs's Sons and Lovers is one narrative that offers a very sad image of the consequences of indust-rialisation. The pictures of sooty Walter Morrel emerging from the coal pits heading for home without enough money and his son Paul having to work to augment the father's earnings remain pathetic. From: AllAfrica.com
9 June - Going Once, Going Twice: Remnants of 10,000+ Elephants May Be On the Auction Block... For the first time in nearly a decade, the international sale of ivory from endangered African elephants has been authorized by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) Secretariat. An estimated 119 tons (108 tonnes) of ivory, put up for sale from four southern African nations, which was in part conditionally approved in 2002, has been audited and verified by the CITES Secretariat. This sum represents the deaths of over 10,000 African elephants. From: The Earth Times / International Fund for Animal Welfare
9 June - Vandalism and Fires Threaten Zim Tourism Industry... Vandalism of security fences around safari farms and uncontrolled veld fires are posing a threat to the development of the safari industry in Zimbabwe. Safari operations have come under strain from vandalism of security fences around farms. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
9 June - Conservation Agric... Government and the Food and Agriculture Organisation have launched the Conservation Agriculture Promotion Network that seeks to improve yields, water supply and soil conservation for increased agricultural production. From: AllAfrica.com
5 June - Environment, Development Inseparable... Zimbabwe on Monday launched the Green Ribbon Week in Harare, an annual awareness campaign for the environment. Zimbabweans were urged to play an active role in sustainable management and conservation of the environment which is in danger of pollution and destruction. From: AllAfrica.com
3 June - 'Be Active in Environmental Conservation'... Zimbabweans have been urged to take an active role in sustainable management and conservation of the country's environment that is in danger of pollution and destruction. Officially launching the Green Ribbon Week at Polywaste Plastics factory in Harare yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Cde Andrew Langa, said the involvement of communities was critical in changing attitudes towards environmental issues. From: AllAfrica.com
30 May - Biotechnology Could Help Solve Food Crisis, Monsanto Asserts... Biotechnology could play a role in staving off a food crisis not only in South Africa, but also in the rest of the world, says agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto sub-Saharan Africa MD Kobus Lindeque. From: Engineering News
30 May - Mugabe Presides Over Decline in Zimbabwe's Wildlife Parks... "The lions went into the bush here. They're hungry, so they'll be irritable. Let's follow them," says Nigel the guide. If it sounds foolhardy to camp and walk in a big game park, doing so in Zimbabwe must be crazy as Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF militias roam the country beating and killing. But Zimbabwe's enormous national parks are generally peaceful havens from the violence. And with Nigel and Xolani the bush tracker to look after me, I feel much safer on the trail of the lions than, say, a Zimbabwean refugee living in Johannesburg. From: The Guardian (UK)
27 May - Nyanga Park Loses 4 Horses to Stray Lions... Nyanga National Park has lost four horses in the past month to lions, which mauled to death three in the first instance before killing one more. Sources from the park said the attacks by lions had taken a worrisome consistency. "The horses were not being kept in their respective stables but were being kept huddled up in a pen without protection and this made it easy for lions to attack them. From: AllAfrica.com
23 May - Conserve Biodiversity for Food Security - Nhema... Zimbabwe should conserve landscape varieties of its major food crops and also integrate biodiversity conservation in the agricultural sector to realise the benefits of dietary diversity and promote food security, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Cde Francis Nhema, has said. From: AllAfrica.com
16 May - Parks Revives Wilderness Trails... The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has revived wilderness trails in selected national parks to allow adventurous travellers a close personal encounter with nature at night. From: AllAfrica.com
16 May - Firm Accused of Fraud... KM Auctions (Private) Limited has been provisionally interdicted from doing business on behalf of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the State Procurement Board pending an investigation into fraud allegations involving US$900 000 and $15 trillion. From: AllAfrica.com
8 May - 2010 Transfrontier Conservation Area Brand to be Launched at Indaba... Nine Southern African countries will converge at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban on Saturday 10 May 2008 to launch the consolidated 2010 TFCA Brand. Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism will officially launch the new joint brand aimed at promoting transfrontier initiatives in the region for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and beyond. From: Travelwires.com
Food for thought: Are There Risks in Giving Money Directly to Communities? (From: SANGONet)
6 May - Hope for Africa's Endangered Wild Dogs... After the Ethiopian wolf, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is the second most endangered carnivore in the whole of Africa. There are probably not more than three to five thousand wild dogs left throughout the continent. From: Telegraph (UK)
3 May - Quelea Birds Threaten Harvests... Quelea birds have invaded some sorghum fields in parts of Matabeleland North and South provinces, threatening the sorghum yields in the affected areas, the Zimbabwe Guardian has established. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
2 May - 30 Register for Show... At least 30 foreign hunters have registered to participate in this year's hunting show, the Parks and Wildlife Authority has said. The authority's spokesperson, Retired Major Edward Mbewe, said hunters from the United States, Spain and Britain were expected to take part in the sport. From: AllAfrica.com
Resource tool: NGOs and charities active in Zim
March/April 2008
29 April - Parks Readies for Quelea Birds... National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority yesterday said it was ready to deal with any possible invasion on winter wheat by quelea birds and avert potential grain loses. From: AllAfrica.com
25 April - Authority to Launch Save Rhino Campaign - Zimbabwe... The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority will tomorrow launch the Save the Rhino Campaign at the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. From: Safarinet
17 April - Zimbabwe Set to Record Rise in Foreign Hunters... This year's hunting season, set to run from May until October, is expected to record an increase in foreign hunters participating, the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said on yesterday. From: AllAfrica.com
16 April - African Wild Dogs Released into Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana... On Saturday, 5 April 2008, 18 African Wild Dogs were released into the Northern Tuli Game Reserve (NOTUGRE). This reintroduction will facilitate the establishment of a viable population of Wild Dogs in the Limpopo Valley region of eastern Botswana. The Wild Dogs originate from the Marakele National Park in South Africa and were donated to NOTUGRE by South African National Parks. From: Safarinet
15 April - Rampaging Elephants Destroying Crops... Marauding elephants that escaped from the Hwange National Park, an animal sanctuary in rural southwestern Zimbabwe, are destroying any hopes among peasant farmers of a moderately successful harvest. From: AllAfrica.com
9 April - Committee on Rhino Protection Set Up... Stakeholders in wildlife conservation have set up a national committee on rhino protection to curb poaching and come up with an emergency action plan to raise awareness on poaching of the endangered species in the country. From: AllAfrica.com
9 April - Zimbabwe Goes for Crocodile Meat... Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare residents are now resorting to crocodile meat, as other alternatives of meat have gone way beyond the reach of many owing to exorbitant prices. Croc meat, which is generally cheap as compared to beef, chicken, pork, and other types of meat, is being sold in numerous butcheries in the capital, especially in the popular suburb of Mbare. From: The Zimbabwe Gazette
Food for thought: Do Traditional/Diaspora Religions of Africa Sponsor Environmental Groups?
Resource tool: Africa Environment and Conservation on the Internet (South of the Sahara)
4 April - Concerns Over Conservation Work in Zimbabwe... Vital conservation work in one of the world’s wildest and most beautiful places is under threat because of the current economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe, according to a Canterbury-born conservationist. From: Kent News (UK)
1 April - Rural Communities to Link Up Regionally... Rural communities that are seeking best practices in natural resource management should partner with organisations in a regional basis to achieve sustainable development, protection of the environment and income through tourism, delegates of six different countries were told. From: AllAfrica.com
31 March - Forests Are Crucial Natural Resources... The world commemorated World Forestry Day on March 21 2008 and World Water Day two days later on the 23rd. Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in marking these days. It becomes imperative for everyone to play their part in making the core aims of the commemorations a reality. In a way, marking the two days is an open illustration of accepting the importance of forests as well as the centrality of sanitation in peoples' lives. From: AllAfrica.com
27 March - Birdlife Zimbabwe Babbler Newsletter - April/May 2008
23 March - Zimbabwe: white farmer Mike Campbell mounts last stand over land grab... The names on the court affidavit are stark; William Michael Campbell vs Robert Gabriel Mugabe. While 4,000 white farmers have been thrown off their land in Zimbabwe, Mike Campbell is the first to take the president himself to an international court. On Tuesday his case will open at the new tribunal of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the Namibian capital of Windhoek. [Ed: This discusses some wildlife on these farms]
21 March - Okavango-Zambezi Project Gets 8 Million Euros... The Usd 24 million Okavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation project involving five southern Africa countries, will get a grant of eight million Euros from the German Non-Governmental Organisation (KHW), for its implementation.
17 March - More of Africa Urged to Boost Rhino Numbers, According to World Wildlife Fund... Today government representatives of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia are expected to join in WWF's African Rhino Program 10th anniversary celebration in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. They will join government and wildlife representatives, community representatives and eco-tourism operators from the current ARP participating states of South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
13 March - Tikki Hywood Trust given award... The Tikki Hywood Trust together Werribee Open Range Zoo on Friday 14 2008, were awarded the “Best Education Program for 2008”.
13 March - Forestry Fellowship available
13 March - Parks Auction Rakes in US$900 000, $15 Trillion... The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority last week raised about US$900 000 and $15 trillion from its annual auction of animals from three of its Zambezi Valley safari camps.
9 March - Country One of Tourism's 'Worst Destinations'... ZIMBABWE has been ranked as one of the worst tourist destinations in the world for the second year running, according to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report for 2008. The report released on Tuesday by the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Zimbabwe a dismal 117 from 130 countries.
6 March - Government Insists On Taking Over Mines... THE government will not turn back on plans to forcibly acquire mining assets using a controversial mining law despite fears that the planned take-over could worsen the capital flight being experienced in the country.
6 March - Gold Panners Destroy Arable Land in Mazoe Valley.... GOLD panning activities resulted in the destruction of 2 000 hactares of arable land in the Mazoe Valley in 2006 and many more thousands of hectares were believed to have been destroyed in other areas during that period, a senior government official said this week.
2 March - CIO Land Grab in Tourist Resorts Irks Zanu PF... A drive by security agents to take over tourist facilities in Matabeleland North has sparked fears this might cost the ruling party votes in this month's elections.
2 March - Slaughter at Kazuma Pans... A family holiday should not encompass the sights that we saw in Zimbabwe this last December. We decided to go north-west of Hwange National Park to Kazuma Pans after bitter disappointment in Hwange’s poorly maintained campsites with no electricity or running water, the relative exorbitant park fees, rangers openly drying game meat even in the public toilets and seeing nothing more than a few very skittish animals fleeing from the sounds of our vehicles.
1 March - Forestry Commission Confiscates Firewood... Firewood worth $7 billion suspected to have been illegally harvested in and around Marondera was last week confiscated by the Forestry Commission.
January/February 2008
29 February - 'National Policy on Biofuels Vital'... The Government needs a clear national policy on biofuels with extensive research to expedite its quest of mitigating the prevailing energy crisis, says the executive officer of Scientific Industrial Research and Develop-ment Council Mr Onisms Manyewe.
28 February - Probe clears Zim in diamonds trade... Zimbabwe has been cleared of any illegal activity in the trade of diamonds, after a probe by the Kimberley Process (KP), the global standard for the diamond industry.
22 February - No going back on mines indigenization, Mugabe... Harare - President Robert Mugabe who has presided over Zimbabwe's eight year economic meltdown epitomised by an annual inflation rate of over 100,000 percent, has poured cold water on moves made by mining sector stakeholders in a bid to reverse the country's draconian mines indigenization legislation.
13 February - Black rhino conservation in Matusadona National Park.... Contrary to many media reports, Zimbabwe still has thriving wildlife populations and a well-managed network of National Parks and safari areas.
10 February - Africa - China's new frontier... Chinese entrepreneurs are invading Africa and reviving the fortunes of the world’s poorest continent. Are they just stripping it of its resources — or have they finally found the answer to a problem the West has been unable to solve?
10 February - African lion encounters: a bloody con... Chris Haslam reveals the gruesome truth behind big-cat conservation projects which British holiday firms champion.
9 February - Zambezi's Kariba Dam floodgates to be opened Monday... The level of the Zambezi River downstream of Kariba Dam,already swollen by torrential rains, is expected to rise sharply next week following the opening of one of the dam's floodgates.
9 February - Zanu PF seeks Z$3 trillion for Mugabe birthday bash... [Ed: this article makes it clear that he expects donations of meat from Zimbabwe's National Parks].
8 February - Milk for Rhinos... Thanks to Clover Milk (RSA) who donated 150kg of skimmed milk powder, there are 3 very happy young rhinos in Zimbabwe this week. Our heartfelt appreciation to Clover for this most welcome donation.
7 February - Botswana's Chobe River Threatened, AWF and Other Experts Say... Pollution, unchecked development, and uncontrolled fishing are endangering the ecological health of the Chobe River, experts recently told the Daily News, a Botswana daily.
7 February - Zambezi Society Newsletter Dec/Jan 2008... The Zambezi Society wishes all its members, friends, colleagues and associates belated best wishes for a peaceful 2008.
6 February - African Elephant Countries Strategize to Thwart Poaching... Elephant conservation and anti-ivory trade initiatives are the focus of a meeting that opened today here with delegates from 17 African elephant range states. Organizers say there is potential for the formation of a coalition of like-minded states that will work towards strengthening elephant conservation.
5 February - Second Elephant Shot in Charara... ZCTF reports
2 February - British teacher attacked by lion on safari... A young primary school teacher has told how she narrowly escaped with her life after she was savagely mauled by a lion on an African safari trip.
28 January - U.S. Gives $1.2 Million to Protect Elephants... The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has announced it will award $1,277,921 in grants to 15 African countries to assist in the protection of African elephants.
23 January - Fears for east African bushmeat slaughter... Food shortages in troubled African states are fueling an unprecedented wave of wildlife slaughter for bushmeat, reports have revealed.
23 January - Birdlife Zimbabwe's Feb/March Babbler Newsletter
20 January - Gifts for Tatenda (Rhino Orphan at Imire)... ZCTF report on donations to Imire.
18 January - IMF estimates inflation at 150 000 percent... An International Monetary Fund (IMF) document says Zimbabwe's inflation for January has galloped to about 150 000% as the economy continues to crumble. This is the same rate reached by Germany during the Weimar Republic in the 1920s in the post-First World War era.
17 January - National Parks Increases Entry, Lodge Charges... The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has increased entry fees and accommodation rates for lodges in all the country's parks.
16 January - Govt Urged to Review Fines for Environment Polluters.... Environmentalists have urged Government to review the fines and penalties for environmental polluters in line with inflation as cases of environmental pollution persist.
15 January - SW Radio Africa - Podcast Interview with Johnny Rodrigues about the Imire tragedy.... Click Here to Listen.
12 January - Shops Close At National Park (Hwange) ... Three upmarket restaurants and four retail facilities servicing Hwange National Park have been closed, it has been learnt.
7 January - Famous Zim elephant bull shot dead... Tusker is dead, shot by rangers after New Year's revellers at a safari camp provoked the elephant into trampling several cars, conservationists said on Monday. Tusker, a towering 50-year-old bull, was shot on Sunday at the Charara camp on the shores of Lake Kariba, 370km north-west of Harare, parks officials and the independent Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said.
7 January - For a people wearied by strife, conservation project offers hope...WHEN Rachel Lowry began her conservation education work in Zimbabwe, she worried that animal welfare would never become a priority for people who lived with daily concerns for their own survival.
4 January - Harare gives green light for elephant biltong.... The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe plans to produce biltong from elephant meat to sell in retail outlets throughout the country "as part of sustainable utilisation of the animals", the Herald online said on Friday. Parks director-general Dr Morris Mtsambiwa said the project began last year after the Ministry of Environment and Tourism permitted the authority to experiment with the "resource".