Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Gonarezhou Conservation Trust (GCT), a partnership between Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) and a German NGO, the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) have condemned the recent killing of a collared elephant bull by a professional hunter in the Gonakudzingwa area of Chiredzi.

The killing, the organisation said, was a breach of the hunter’s ethical code of conduct.

In a statement, the Trust said the action was a blow to conservation efforts around the wildlife-rich Gonarezhou National Park.

“The GCT, on behalf of Zimparks and Frankfurt Zoological Society, is extremely disappointed by the loss of this collared elephant, particularly considering the ongoing efforts to engage with hunting operators outside of the park’s boundaries,” said the Trust.

“Incidents such as these threaten to undo much of the progress made and reinforce the need for stricter adherence to the ethical code of conduct for any hunting around the park.

“It is a significant blow to conservation efforts in the greater ecosystem and can only serve to reinforce GCT’s commitment to protecting both these animals and their habitat.”

GCT says the jumbo was one of the 22 elephants that had been collared in the Gonarezhou National Park.

“The park itself has a globally significant and healthy elephant population estimated at over 11 000 individuals, at a density of two elephants per square kilometre, which is one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa,’’ said the Trust.

“In an effort to understand the dynamics of this population, and specifically their behaviour in the context of the wider ecosystem and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA), a number of exercises were carried out and satellite collars were placed on a total of 22 individual elephants in the park by GCT, University of Zimbabwe and the Makoholi Research Institute.

“This would assist in highlighting the potential options for natural linkages with the GLTFCA ecosystem, as well as provide data that could be used in mitigating the conflicts between humans and elephants outside of the park boundary.”

Zimparks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the shooting of the collared elephant in the Gonakudzingwa area.

“On Thursday, April 12, 2018 at around 1000hrs, our officer-in-charge at Mabalauta in the south of Gonarezhou National Park was alerted to the shooting of an elephant bull outside the Gonarezhou in the Gonakudzingwa area,” he said.

“While it is not illegal for a hunter to shoot a collared elephant, the general position taken by the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association is that it is unethical and should be avoided wherever possible.

“In a statement recorded after the hunt, the operator was well aware of the ethical stance and as a result of previous similar incidences, was aware of the potential for collared individuals to roam into hunting areas outside the park.”