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Dear Supporters
Recently, the annual VFAPU Golf Day was held at the Borrowdale Brooke Golf Course and many teams turned out to support this fun day. Many, many thanks go out to all those who took part and we look forward to seeing you all next year. Thanks go to all those responsible for organising this event - VFAPU salutes you. This particular fund-raising day has been vital to the survival of the unit and its operations. Poaching levels have varied over these last few months and we have been kept fairly busy. The recent "clean up" operation enforced by the Government saw some interesting developments as far as poaching goes. The poorer communities living in the areas on the edges of the Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Parks were removed, having their homes burnt down and then being forced to move back to their traditional villages in the rural areas of Zimbabwe. This action has seen quite a dramatic reduction in wood poaching for fuel, as most of the women who were previously guilty of committing this form of poaching were repatriated to their village homes. Before the clean up operation, VFAPU was encountering at least one hundred and fifty women a month wood poaching, but this number has dropped dramatically to approximately twenty. During the same operation, the Zimbabwe Republic Police
destroyed/removed any illegal kiosks, vendor and curio stalls in and around
Victoria Falls town.
Unfortunately, there were a number of other incidences where
mammals were killed through poaching. A buffalo bull, having chased safari
clients several times,
Members of VFAPU had to do the same with an large elephant bull who had been shot through the ribs and lungs by poachers. This bull was in a very poor condition and we decided that it was best to end his suffering and we did so in a quick and professional manner. One three month old elephant calf and one eight year old elephant, both with cable snares around their necks have been sighted several times in the Masuwe River and Chamabonda Vlei areas. VFAPU's follow-up operations have yet to produce any positive results with regard to being able to dart and treat these animals. Should any Victoria Falls resident or operator see these elephants, please contact me any time of the day. Last month, we received reports of a wounded buffalo carrying a snare on his back left foot. After several attempted follow-ups to track this mammal, we were successful in tranquilising him with a dose of M99. Hyenas had previously located this buffalo in his wounded state and had bitten off the buffalo's tail and testicles! After a fairly lengthy operation, the buffalos wounds were cleaned and treated. Several weeks later, this buffalo was seen on several occasions and had put on weight as well as joining up with a herd.
We have recently re-established the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Committee. This committee consists of seven stakeholders from the business and private communities of Victoria Falls. The aim is to meet regularly to discuss and address the various issues involved our conservation work and to generally raise further conservation awareness amongst the communities. Thank you all for the support especially through these
incredibly hard times. It is with your assistance that VFAPU can pledge to do
our best to effectively protect our environment and it's wildlife by whatever
means possible. Should anyone require further information about VFAPU, please
contact me anytime. |
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© Afrikeye 1999 - 2007 (certain items under permission of original copyright owner) |
This
then left a number of people without any form of income and subsequently, a
sudden increase in mammal poaching followed. One gang of men took to the
southern section of the Zambezi National park and set up 54 snares in one area
which was close to a water hole. Two spotted hyena, one kudu bull, two buffalo
and two impala lost their lives here. VFAPU observed all the vultures that were
descending on the scene and we were able to stake an ambush close to some of the
carcasses.
It
was not long before a member of the poacher gang (who had also seen the
vultures) arrived on the scene to start butchering the victims. He did not get
very far, as we were able to catch him after a short chase through the bush. His
arrest led to further investigations, as the cable that was used to make all
these snares was stolen from a local operator. This man is currently serving his
jail sentence.
eventually
had to be shot in order to end it's suffering caused by horrific wounds from a
cable snare.
We
are proud to have joined forces with both The Elephant Camp and The Elephant
Company here in Victoria Falls. Working together with these elephant-back safari
operators, we now produce elephant footprint paintings which are original
paintings done by individual elephants. These are sold to clients as a souvenir
of their experiences with the elephants that they have had the pleasure of
meeting. Part proceeds from these sales go to VFAPU. We have also used some of
the elephants to assist us with anti poaching operations. Riding on the backs of
the elephants thus enables us to approach wounded game at far more close
quarters than if we were on foot. Recently, we had to dart a giraffe in this
manner, which had a horrific wound caused by yet another snare. The sad news was
that the giraffe's leg bone completely snapped as it went over, so we had to put
it down.
We
continue removing snares on a daily basis, reminding ourselves that each snare
removed is a potential saving of a mammal. To date, we have now removed
approximately 16,840 of these traps form our operational area. Approximately 188
poachers (more serious offenders) have been apprehended by our scouts, and
handed over to the appropriate authourities for prosecution.