Threat to rare wildlife
MUKWASI, ZIMBABWE: Poachers are using the widespread farm invasions around Zimbabwe as a
cover to kill some of the nation's rarest species, wildlife reserve wardens and
environmental- ists say. "The occupation of hundreds of farms and ranches and the
fact that the police are doing little to uphold the law in recent months have led to an
increase in poaching," said Graham Connear, who runs a conservancy in the Save
Valley.
Connear said he's still in shock after discovering a black rhinoceros caught in a snare
which left the rare animal seriously injured. The Save Conservancy comprises a string of
privately owned ranches and farms, which the government has allowed to create one of the
world's largest private wildlife preserves in addition to the state-run parks. Threatened
black rhinos were brought there in a bid to preserve and boost the species' numbers.
But on Mukwasi ranch, just one of the many that make up the Save preserve, 700 snares were
discovered in only one month and 45 animals were found dead or seriously injured, Connear
said. Mukwasi is one of the 1600 farms invaded by veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation war in
a bid to speed up a government program that seeks to seize without compensation
white-owned farms for resettlement by poor blacks.
The often-violent occupations have led to killings, beatings and other intimidation of
farmers and farm workers. The police have failed to stop the violence - and at times
condoned it - which has led to an increase in thefts and poaching on the farms. "We
cannot reach certain areas of the ranch and are therefore unable to protect a number of
animals," said one ranch employee.
Africa's black rhinos are among the most endangered large mammals on earth. Only 300 roam
Zimbabwe's parks and reserves, but their horns remain highly valued for knife handles in
Yemen or as an ingredient in traditional African medicine. The Commercial Farmers Union
(CFU), which represents Zimbabwe's 4500 white-owned farms, reports that animals are killed
almost every day on the occupied farms.
Sometimes the animals are cattle or livestock, but recently on Balihai Farm, near the
eastern town of Marondera, a farmer found a reedbuck that had been shot dead. The farmer
described the dark-haired antelope as a disappearing part of Zimbabwe's natural heritage.
A duiker - a small species of antelope - was found dead in a snare on Msasa Farm near
Wedza in northern Zimbabwe, and a kudu - a spiral-horned antelope - was found dead on
Sheepridge Farm, near Chinhoyi in the northeast.
Wildlife groups say the poachers could be squatters on the farms, or just people taking
advantage of the vacuum of law enforcement to attack Zimbabwe's enormous natural
diversity.END OF
REPORT
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