adminThe killing of elephants at Hwange National Park, a phenomenon which has found a new lease of life, is a serious cause for concern.
This is because the poaching of elephants, or any kind of wild animals for that matter, is not just an ecological disaster; it is an economic and security threat as well. Tourism, one of the pillars of our economy, and a vital source of income for many African countries, is threatened if wildlife preserves are depopulated.
Reports say the overall black market for illegal wildlife trade has become the fourth most lucrative criminal activity internationally, after drugs, counterfeit goods, and human trafficking, and we should be very afraid.
A couple of years ago, more than 100 elephants were killed at Hwange using cyanide poisoning by criminals, and the illicit trend has cropped up again, with at least 26 elephants killed in similar fashion in and around the Park.
We reported three weeks ago that 10 elephants were killed using cyanide poisoning, and it appears more have been caught in the trap, and in the process killing a lot of other species in the ecosystem.
This calls for serious responses from the police, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority, members of the public and all other stakeholders to stop the rot.
What is clear is that people who are making a quick buck from killing elephants in this fashion live and do their business within the community and surely, someone knows who is behind this terrible act.
We therefore call for communities in the area to open their eyes and ears, and report any suspicious actions so that the culprits are brought to book. In the long run, the Park will lose its rating once the number of elephants go down, and tourists will stop visiting the area, a development that will also impact badly on local communities as they benefit from tourism activities.
The effect of the illegal ivory trade is being felt across Africa. In just one park in Tanzania, Selous, 67 percent of the elephants were slaughtered over a four-year period. Ongoing surveys and reports are revealing the near annihilation of elephants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the South Sudan, and some of the monies raised form such illicit deals are said to be channeled towards militia, rebel and even terrorist organisations around the world. This is why we can not afford to fold our arms and let criminals do as they please.
Nonetheless, we are pleased to note that there is already remedial action on the ground, with Parks officials and the police intensifying patrols and setting up semi-permanent patrol bases while monitoring water-bodies in the area.
“We are working with the Environmental Management Agency to carry out cyanide tests and proper disposal of poisoned carcasses.
Further we are intensifying awareness with local communities and we want to lobby for stiffer penalties for handling hazardous substances,” Parks spokesperson, Caroline Washaya-Moyo told our sister paper, Chronicle during the week, adding that 16 jumbos were found dead in Lupande area while 10 were found at Chakabvi in Nyamatela.
Online Reporter