Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube,
HWANGE, Zimbabwe – The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks), has initiated a training program to equip local communities with the skills to better manage human-wildlife conflict.
Fourteen participants from the Tsholotsho, Lupane, and Matetsi regions, which border Hwange National Park – Zimbabwe’s largest and oldest national park – took part in the comprehensive eight-day training. The program focused on data collection, map reading, and techniques for mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
The training was designed to empower local “guardians” with the knowledge and skills needed to play a vital role in fostering harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife in the Hwange District.
“We are thrilled to announce that our dedicated community guardians have completed this training programme in Hwange,” said IFAW in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for the financial support from the Australian Embassy and Zimbabwe’s Direct Aid Program, which has enabled IFAW and Zimparks to implement this crucial human-wildlife conflict mitigation project.”
IFAW believes that the key to improving community tolerance towards wildlife lies in empowering those most affected by coexisting with animals. The organisation’s “Room-to-Roam” initiative aims to collaborate with communities to collectively develop solutions to urgent conservation challenges, including human-wildlife conflict.
The training programme is part of IFAW and Zimparks’ ongoing partnership to carry out various conservation projects around Hwange National Park, one of Africa’s most important wildlife havens.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter