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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
A LIONESS and 41 endangered white-backed vultures were found dead, believed poisoned at an animal sanctuary in Beitbridge district.
The endangered vultures are feared to have feasted on the carcass of a lioness that was allegedly poisoned with strychnine at Sentinel Limpopo Eco Safaris in the border district.
Strychnine is a highly toxic, colourless compound used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents.
The owner of the safari ranch, Digby Bristow, said they suspected that a disgruntled cattle farmer from the neighbouring Maramani village was behind the poisoning.
He said the incident occurred last week and was reported to both the police and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) and no arrests had been made so far.
“We were in a meeting with our Zimbabwean Greater Mapungubwe TFCA colleagues when our game scouts notified us of the terrible news that one of our beautiful lionesses and 41 endangered white-backed vultures were found dead on the boundary of the farm as a result of poisoning,” said Bristow.
“We’re assuming that a disgruntled cattle farmer from the neighbouring Maramani Communal Lands primarily intended to kill the lions that were killing his cattle that illegally graze on our property.”
The carcasses have since been burnt to avoid the poison from spreading.
“Unfortunately, the dead birds and lion had to be burnt in order to prevent further poisoning before samples of the poison could be taken.
“However, experts believe it might have been strychnine, but this is based on what the scouts reported when they arrived at the scene and observed the way the vultures were vomiting the meat that they ingested,” said Bristow.
He said the white-backed vultures play an important role in cleaning up the veld and disease control.
“White backed vultures are critically endangered and they”re the unfortunate second-hand victims of predator poisoning.
“Losing 41 of these magnificent birds like this is a terrible blow to conservation as they play such an important role in cleaning up the veldt and disease control,” said Bristow.
Sentinel Limpopo Eco Safaris is situated on the northern bank of the Limpopo River, about 60km west of Beitbridge town.
It is a pristine and fenceless wilderness covering about 32,000 hectares of diverse habitats and rich fauna and flora.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi