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Zambia is still a relatively poor nation and the rural people do not have the luxury to view wildlife for it's beauty, as the wealthy and western world do, and often can only see it for the nutritional value it can provide for their families. Secondly and one of the greatest threats and challenges in the Park is the Bushmeat Trade or what CLZ classifies as Commercial Meat Poaching. The difference between this and Subsistence Poaching is the fact that it is not for survival, it is commercial. This probably accounts for over 90% of the poaching in the park. Although, villagers
from outlying areas generally carry out this type of poaching, middlemen and the
wealthier often instigate it from the cities. A snare is a silent and lethal loop of wire bent to form a noose and placed on a wildlife trail. Snaring is the most indiscriminate form of poaching that exists today often causing the utterly wasteful death of any unfortunate animal that may use the game trail. Lastly
is what we refer to as Trophy Poaching which target mostly endangered
species for their ivory, horns, pelts and body parts. Once again these poachers
are often, although not always, employees at the end of the food chain. They
tend to use more sophisticated and military firearms. The illegal trade in the Far East is largely to blame for this type of poaching, as without the demand there is no need for the supply. The picture on the left was taken in 1998 of the elephant known as BIG BOY I, the largest tusker in the Lower Zambezi National Park. Due to the fast work of a rapid response team moved by CLZ the ivory was saved but sadly not this mighty mammal. |
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© Afrikeye 1999 - 2007 (certain items under permission of original copyright owner) |
Within the Lower Zambezi National Park there are three
distinct types of poaching. Firstly and the least serious is Subsistence
Poaching.
Due to improved communications and
a more rapid response to gunshot reports there has been a decrease in the use of
weapons in poaching activities here. Unfortunately
this has also resulted in an increase in the use of wire snares.
CLZ devotes a huge amount of time and energy into the darting
and removal of snares from animals that have been fortunate enough to break free
but remain with the offending snare around their neck, leg, or trunk which would
otherwise have resulted in a slow lingering death.