malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
ABOUT 100 days ago, a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) ranger, Stranger Mudenda, lost his life after he was gored by a buffalo in Hwange.
He was attacked on June 14 and died 16 days later.
He is one of the numerous many rangers who put their lives at risk to protect Zimbabwe’s wildlife.
Mudenda was remembered at a belated World Rangers Day held at Matobo National Park, some 35km south of Bulawayo, on Wednesday.
Matobo is Zimbabwe’s oldest national park, having been established in 1926.
ZimParks board vice chairperson Ms Sithembile Ncube emphasised the need to invest in ranger training and the importance of conservation.
“Each time a ranger goes out on law enforcement or anti-poaching patrol, they are putting their lives on the line, as there is always the possibility of not coming back alive as they encounter armed and dangerous criminals as well as dangerous animals,” said Ms Ncube.
In another horrendous incident, two bodies of ZimParks rangers were discovered floating in Lake Kariba in January 2020.
Evidence suggests they were killed by poachers.
“It is through unfortunate incidences like these that we are reminded to applaud and salute all living and fallen rangers who gave their lives to the protection of our wildlife heritage; not just on Rangers Day, but every single day,” added Ms Ncube.
She hailed the authority’s various conservation partners like African Parks, Save Valley Conservancy, African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), International Foundation for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the United Nations Development Fund.
The belated commemoration of rangers coincided with the ZimParks Director-General Sports Tournament, which was also held at Matobo National Park.
ZimParks director-general Mr Fulton Upenyu Mangwanya highlighted some of the challenges his organisation is facing to protect wildlife.
Zimbabwe is home to the second-largest elephant population in the world (about 100 000) after Botswana.
Lions, rhinos, leopards, buffaloes and giraffes are also found in the country’s national parks.
“ZimParks recognise the work done by people on the ground, who have risked their lives to protect our animals through anti-poaching, and the stakeholders, who have assisted in different ways, as well as the communities for their support,” said Mr Mangwanya.
“The traditional, economical and intrinsic value of wildlife cannot be overemphasised; however, its conservation is not an easy feat.
“Only a multi-stakeholder approach guarantees success in our conservation approach.”
Online Reporter