Jealously guard rhino against poachers

released by the Zimbabwe Wildlife Management Authority indicate that at least 23 black and white rhinos were killed in national parks and conservancies, while 37 rhino poachers and illegal dealers were arrested this year.
Zimbabwe has just above 700 black and white rhinos. Despite anti-poaching operations by the wildlife management Authority which is costing them US$4 million a year, the rhino continues to be shot for its horn.
With a kilogramme of rhino horn fetching more money than the same weight in gold, the temptations for poachers are certainly great.
The rhino horn prized in the Far and Middle East where it is believed to be an aphrodisiac and is also valued as a decorative dagger handle.
We know that the park authorities are doing their best to preserve the country’s wildlife heritage and that they have come up with a number of strategies to ensure protection of the rhino and other wildlife.
We, however, feel that more needs to be done to contain this menace from poachers.
The country needs to jealously guard wildlife against poaching especially the black rhino, which continues to face the real danger of extinction. The gestation period of the rhino and the elephant take years.
It takes two years for a baby elephant or rhino to be conceived and born – and about six months for an average game.
Add another four years that the beast grows into adulthood and possibly another year it will be an off spring-bearing adult.
That makes seven years the time that you can replace an elephant or rhino.
We therefore need to build on past successes scored in the conservation of the rhino.
We cannot fold our arms and watch poachers decimating our prized wildlife.
There is need to closely manage animal production in national parks and conservancies as economically and ecologically viable as possible.
We know that the parks authority has struggled for years to beat the sustained assault on the rhino and has won many battles.
But it has not had the manpower, equipment and resources to confront all the poaching gangs.
Reports say poachers are now using aircraft to hunt and kill rhinos.
The poachers are well equipped with sophisticated weapons. This shows that they are well organised and well funded.
This also shows that there are some “big money” syndicates who use aircraft for poaching missions and reconnaissance.
True, rhino poaching across Africa has risen sharply in the past few years, threatening to reverse hardwon population increases achieved by governments and conservations groups.
To win the war against poachers, the parks authority has to do a lot as far as its budget is concerned.
The national park estate is a priceless asset for Zimbabwe, and not as a playground for the urban rich.
As we have said in the past, we desperately need to preserve the diversity of plant and animal species in our country.
The parks also help our tourism. Very few are going to spend vast sums on air tickets to examine the architecture of Harare.
People come to Zimbabwe to look at our wilderness, to see our game and to see our natural wonders.
The growth in ecological awareness will stimulate tourism, so long as we can keep ecologically rich areas well protected.
The era when wildlife management was the preserve of the government is long gone hence there are now several players in this field.
While the State is still a major player, the liberalisation has seen new stakeholders emerge.
These vary from individual property owners to local communities represented by the local government structures.
All these groups should take part in the anti-poaching war spear-headed by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
We commend some settlers near national parks and conservancies who have set up some task forces to monitor and help reduce poaching. This should vigorously be pursued by others.
Resettled villagers on farms adjacent to conservancies should not allow themselves to be used by some farmers’ cartels involved in illegal hunting and airlifting of our precious wildlife.
Wildlife management should also be seen in the wider context of environmental management, which is more holistic and takes into account both social-economic and ecological issues. We call on the judiciary to mete out stiffer penalties on all convicted poachers.
While we feel the punishment against offenders has been evidently lenient, there have also been delays in investigation, prosecuting and punishing the culprits.
If it is the law which is lenient, it should be amended.