Online Reporter
Emmanuel Koro
WHEN the Kariba Dam wall was constructed across the Zambezi River, to generate hydroelectric power for Zimbabwe and Zambia, its engineers likely never imagined it would one day present one of the most compelling arguments in favour of international hunting.
The dam wall gave rise to Lake Kariba — the world’s largest man-made lake — surrounded by rich and diverse wildlife.
Yet it is the lake’s three remaining islands that provide a striking, real-world case study on how wildlife responds to different forms of land use, particularly in the context of international hunting.
This argument lies at the heart of a must-watch video documentary, The Last Wild Islands, produced by South Africa-born, US-based Dr Robert Kroger, available on YouTube from June 6, 2025.
The film compares wildlife populations across three islands in Lake Kariba, each managed differently — and the results speak volumes.
The first island is home to human settlements, livestock and agriculture. Here, wildlife has all but disappeared.
“No wild animals stay here,” the island seems to declare. “Predators like lions are killed on sight to protect people and livestock. Elephants, hippos, even impalas — don’t dare come here.”
The presence of humans and farming activities has effectively driven wildlife away.
The second island, which includes Chete and Sekula Islands, is under the protection of Zambia’s Wildlife Authority. There are no human settlements, and hunting is prohibited.
At first glance, it might appear to be a wildlife sanctuary. But the reality is far more sobering.
Game ranger Hastings Mambonwa explains: “Poachers sneak onto the island. We constantly find snares and the decomposing bodies of animals that die slow and painful deaths after being trapped.”
Despite round-the-clock government protection, poaching remains rampant due to an insufficient number of rangers, and wildlife continues to suffer.
Then comes the third island — Chikanka. It is privately owned and operated as a game ranch, where international hunting is permitted and strictly regulated.
Revenue from international hunting supports the employment of sufficient rangers and anti-poaching resources to safeguard wildlife.
This island astonishes viewers with its abundance of wildlife, far surpassing both the human-inhabited and government-protected islands.
The island’s owner, JJ Jordaan, reveals the secret behind this unexpected success — sustainable international hunting.
Like many conservation hunting areas in Southern Africa, Chikanka Island permits only about 0,5 percent of its wildlife population to be hunted annually.
Revenue from these controlled hunts is reinvested into conservation efforts — funding game scouts, anti-poaching patrols and infrastructure. As a result, poaching is virtually non-existent.
Not only is wildlife thriving, but the ecosystem remains balanced, and surplus animals are often translocated to other areas in need of re-population.
The wildlife populations have cast their vote. The numbers are undeniable: Chikanka Island hosts the largest, healthiest population, among the three. It is here, where animals are safe, valued and sustainably managed — even through regulated hunting — that they flourish.
The verdict is clear: wildlife chooses the living conditions of Chikanka Island.
For those who remain sceptical, the evidence is visual and accessible.
Visit the island and see for yourself.
Alternatively, watch The Last Wild Islands on YouTube and witness how international hunting can serve as a powerful tool for conservation.
Emmanuel Koro is a Johannesburg-based, internationally award-winning environmental journalist, who writes independently on environmental and development issues around the world
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