Teachers to get training in wildlife conservation, management

THE Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (VFWT) has started a programme of training teachers from various schools in wildlife management and conservation as part of efforts to promote ecological education.

VFWT, which recently turned 15 years, was created by a group of people that have a passion for wildlife conservation.

The objective of the organisation is to rescue and rehabilitate animals, conduct research and diseases control as well as community outreach among other activities in communities around Hwange District.

Over the years, the VFWT has carried out anti-poaching activities such as removing wire snares and traps. It has rescued hundreds of animals, rehabilitated them before releasing them back into the jungle.

This involves different wildlife and bird species. The trust also helps communities in livestock management.

Posting on its Twitter account, VFWT said it had trained some teachers from surrounding rural areas.

“Teaching the teachers has never been more exciting. Last week we had a seminar at the Trust to teach teachers from the rural Hwange West district how to interpret the lesson plans for ecological clubs that we have helped set up at their respective schools,” said the VFWT.

The organisation also recently ran free vaccinations for rabies and canine distemper in communities near Victoria Falls to help prevent rabies.

Hwange Rural District Council environment and natural resources officer Mr Nxoleleni Ncube said VFWT has a Memorandum of Understanding with the local authority.

He commended the organisation for its work in wildlife conservation and community engagement in selected communities in the district.

“They are facilitating in terms of human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Over the years they have assisted in addressing human-wildlife conflicts in Victoria Falls and surrounding areas,” said Mr Ncube.

He said VFWT has officers that patrol and run programmes in Chikandakubi and Ndlovu areas which are human-wildlife conflict hotspots.

“They have been very instrumental in promoting community participation in conservation programmes,” he said.

The VFWT also carries out research and has elephants and lions that are collared for monitoring. — @ncubeleon