Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit: News

June 2, 2010

VFAPU – Dear VFAPU Supporters and potential Supporters, Firstly, on behalf of all of us VFAPU, I would like to thank you all for your continued support, which is so vital to our operations against the menace of poaching in our region. You are all playing a vital role in this challenge that faces us.

Please refer to our report below for details on our operation since the beginning of the year to present. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

January 2010

Snares located: 42
Persons apprehended: 13 (12 wood poachers, 1 fish poacher)
Mammals darted: Nil
Mammals found poached: 7
Species: 4 impala, 2 warthog, 1 kudu
Location/s: Big tree area, behind Vic Falls Primary School
Other: One elephant bull was found dead close to the airstrip on the Kazungula Rd, with no apparent bullet or snare wounds. The tusks were recovered by National Parks and Wildlife management Authority staff. One impala found dead by Nyathi Rest Camp as was one warthog found by Wimpy – both presumed to have been killed by vehicles.

February 2010

Snares located: 9
Persons apprehended: 23 ( 8 wood, 4 border jumpers, 3 people illegal entry to the Zambezi National Park, 5 fish, 3 curio vendors
Mammals darted: 1
Species: Warthog male
Location: Caught in a cable snare by Jays Spar car park in Victoria Falls town.
Mammals found poached: 3
Species: 2 buffalo, 1 sable
Location/s: the buffalo were found close to the shooting range off mine field road and the sable was in the Chamabonda vlei
Other: 1 one meter crocodile found off Kazungula Rd with brain removed, possibly to be used as ‘muti’.

March 2010

Snares located: 23
Persons apprehended: 15 (8 wood, 4 curio vendors, 1 man found illegally in the park with a knife,  2 people illegal entry into Zambezi National park
Mammals darted: 3
Species: Warthog
Location: close to rainbow Hotel/railway line
Mammals found poached: 5
Species: 3 buffalo, 1 warthog and 1 spotted hyena
Location: the buffalo were north of shooting range, the warthog was by the Big tree, and the hyena was behind Vic Falls Hotel
Other: 1 female buffalo found in Bug Tree are with no snare or bullet wounds

April 2010

Snares located: 14
Persons apprehended: 12 (1 wood, 2 people illegal entry to Zambezi National Park, 8 curio vendors, 1 man selling illegal game meat)
Mammals darted: 1
Species: Kudu cow
Location: Big tree
Mammals poached: 3
Species: 1 elephant bull, 1 female buffalo, 1 female eland.
Location/s: The elephant bull was found 500m from picnic site No 1 in the Zambezi national Park, the buffalo was 100m off Wood Road, the eland was found at Chamabonda salt pan. Other; 1 impala ram found dead at golf course hole no.2 – cause of death unknown.

May 2010

Snares located: 11
Persons apprehended: 8 (5 wood, 2 curio vendors, 1 thief)
Mammals darted: 3
Species: Warthog x 1, buffalo female x 1 , elephant bull x  1
Location/s: Western ridge close to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls Hotel
Mammals poached: 1 buffalo cow
Location: west of shooting range
Other: 1 female buffalo found dead at Big Tree  – cause of death unknown
The elephant bull that was darted died during treatment procedure and had serious septic wounds probably caused form being hit by a train or a truck.
1 female warthog hot by vehicle by Sprayview Hotel and the carcass was stolen by passing vehicle.
1 buffalo bull was hit by a vehicle on Kazungula Road by the Victoria Falls Primary School. VFAPU scouts tracked the buffalo for 6 km and on seeing the extent of wounds that were suffered, it was decided to shoot it.
1 elephant bull was reported to be badly wounded with a possible bullet wound and was unable to walk. This bull was seen on Liunga Loop and it is currently being tracked.

On a positive side, there has been a great improvement in game sightings in and around Victoria Falls. From reports received from a variety of people, lions, wild dogs, cheetah, buffalo, herds of 40 plus elephants, plus a general increase of plains game are being seen. Of course, we have the elephant bulls that regularly visit the suburbs and stir up a number of reactions from the public, as they bulldoze through walls and gates to sample various gardens attractions!

VFAPU welcomes the new Area Manager for the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe – Mr Arthur Musakwa. We have already had a number of meetings and it is very encouraging to have his full commitment to continue the strong relationship already existing between VFAPU and NPWMAZ.  We also thank the Zimbabwe Republic Police for their support, as we all work  together to PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE FOR OUR FUTURE AND FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN.

Please spread the word as the more support we can get, the more scouts we can put in the field. VFAPU is looking for further stakeholders to join our ‘sponsor a scout’ programme, so please contact us for more information. Please forward this report to anyone who you feel may be able to help.

Once again, VFAPU thanks each and every donor/supporter who has generously given their assistance through the last eleven years that VFAPU has been able to operate.

“working together to conserve Zimbabwe’s wildlife’

Regards,

Charles Brightman

Posted in Anti Poaching, Latest News, Victoria Falls Community, Victoria Falls Green Fund, Wildlife Conservation