Langton Nyakwenda

ARGUABLY one of the biggest private conservancy areas in Zimbabwe and home to a thriving rhino population, the Bubye Valley Conservancy, situated 60km west of Beitbridge, is also plagued by high-profile poaching.

The wildlife authority has been persistent in battling poaching, with ZimParks rangers shooting three poachers last week, thereby bringing the total number of poachers killed this year to nine. The latest shooting comes hardly two months after ZimParks rangers killed two poachers in the same area. The poachers were armed with rifles and axes, and were reportedly tracking a rhino. Zimbabwe, home to the world’s second largest elephant population – a massive 82 000 jumbos – is renowned for its extensive conservation efforts.

Botswana has the largest elephant population with a strong herd of more than 135 000 jumbos.

Substantial amounts of money have been invested in the fight against poaching.

“Nine poachers have been killed so far this year. A number of rifles have also been recovered from these poachers,” revealed Mr Tinashe Farawo, ZimParks public relations manager.

“Since the coming in of director general Mr Fulton Mangwanya and the introduction of the shoot to kill policy, Zimbabwe has witnessed a significant decrease in poaching cases. We lost 12 elephants in 2018, compared to 400 in 2014.

“We have increased patrols and educational awareness campaigns. We are also working with state agencies in this fight.”

Mr Farawo said Zimbabwe’s wildlife population is now healthy.

“The wildlife population has been increasing during the last 10 years. We have also invested a lot of money in these conservation efforts. That is why we are saying we should be allowed to trade in some animal products such as ivory so that we can raise money and channel it towards conservation and community development,” said Mr Farawo.

Zimbabwe and Botswana are calling the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (Cites) to lift the ban on the trade of ivory.

Cites will hold its meeting in Switzerland later this month.ZimParks’ anti-poaching drive has also seen the rhino population growing significantly to over 1 000.

Zimbabwe is also now home to about 2 000 lions.“We are one of the main sources of rhinos in Africa alongside Kenya, Namibia and South Africa. This has been made possible by our persistent fight against poaching. We have actually been assisting our brothers in Botswana and DR Congo to expand their range. We have rhinos mainly in Matopos, Chivero, Lake Kyle and other private areas,” said Mr Farawo.