Concerns mount over World Heritage Site status

Zambia's only listed World Heritage Site is under threat by plans to build a multi-million dollar resort near the world-renowned Victoria Falls, a local environmental organisation is claiming. The government has awarded 220 hectares of land in the 66 sq.km Mosi-O-Tunya National Park at a cost of US$9 million, plus an undisclosed recurring levy, to South Africa's Legacy Group Holdings for development over a 75-year period under a tourism concession programme.

The national park is a World Heritage Site shared with neighbouring Zimbabwe, with the waterfalls as an international tourist drawcard. In the past, Zimbabwe was the main port of call for those wanting to visit Victoria Falls, but Zambia has become the preferred destination as a consequence of Zimbabwe's economic meltdown, which has seen annual inflation levels topping 1,000 percent - the highest in the world - with commonplace shortages of fuel, energy and food. "We have benefited so much from the booming tourism here but we may lose out, as UNESCO [United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organisation] has already indicated to us plans of withdrawing the status of Victoria Falls as a World Heritage Site, should the construction of a Legacy hotel be allowed to go on in the park," Nicholas Katanekwa, chair of the Livingstone Tourism Association, told IRIN.

Chairman of Legacy Holdings International Bart Dorrestein said the company would spend about US$260 million on building two hotels, 500 chalets and an 18-hole golf course. The proposed site is six kilometres upriver from Victoria Falls and lies between the Zambezi and Maramba rivers.

Donald Chikumbi, chief executive officer of the Livingstone-based National Heritage and Conservation Commission, said, "We have not received any correspondence from UNESCO to do with the allocation of this land in the Mosi-O-Tunya National Park to Legacy Holdings, but what we have received is a notice letter from UNESCO, informing us that a delegation of officials from UNESCO and the IUCN [International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources] will be coming to Livingstone on 20 November this year. "They are coming to do a ground inspection on how far Zambia and Zimbabwe have gone in terms of upholding the various protocols that have a bearing on the status of the Victoria Falls as a World Heritage Site but, of course, their coming might have been influenced, in a way, by whatever is being said and circulated about this World Heritage Site," he said.

Maureen Mwape, spokesperson for the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), declined to comment on the allocation of the land to Legacy Holdings. The Zambian portion of the World Heritage Site is jointly managed by ZAWA and the National Heritage Heritage Conservation Commission.

At a July meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, the committee cited concerns that "the integrity of the property [Mosi-O-Tunya National Park] remained threatened by uncontrolled urban development, pollution and unplanned tourism development."

Tourism has been designated a key sector for job creation and poverty relief by Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa's government. His pro-market economic policies have endeared him to western donors, but have had little impact on addressing dire unemployment levels. Zambia, with a population of about 10 million, has about 400,000 formal-sector jobs, while two-thirds survive on $1 or less a day.

A recent World Bank report, 'Challenges of African Growth: Opportunities, Constraints and Strategic Directions', indicated that despite vast natural resources, and political stability since independence from Britain in 1964, income levels had regressed."Zambia's and Cote d'Ivoire's per capita incomes have hardly progressed relative to their levels in 1960. Zambia's per capita income on average retrogressed at -0.6 percent per annum over the past 45 years and, as a result, its 2004 level of $902 in 1996 international prices is 23 percent below the 1960 level of $1,167", the Bank said.

The Environmental Council of Zambia, a governmental watchdog, called a meeting in Livingstone, the tourism capital of Zambia, last Saturday to discuss the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report. The period for objecting to the proposed resort will close on 20 November.

Council spokesperson Justine Mukosa said the EIA encouraged "as wide participation of stakeholders as possible. Then, based on what all stakeholders say, and indeed on our own independent investigations and assessments, we shall soon come up with our final position on why the project should go ahead or not go ahead - we shall approve or disapprove the project."

The resort's promise of creating 2,000 jobs has elicted strong support for the project among local residents and organisations. "We, the people of Livingstone, want development. We want Legacy because we have suffered too much with joblessness and poverty," said Shadrick Mabote, a representative of senior chief Mukuni, in whose chiefdom the Victoria Falls is located. "We are ready to take any action against those opposing the project, and we can even walk up to State House [the presidential residence] in protest if anything is done to disturb Legacy from constructing the project in this land."

Livingstone, with a population of about 200,000 people, has not been spared the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic - about one in five sexually active adults is infected.Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union deputy secretary-general Michelo Chizyuka told IRIN that "Each one of us keeps at least three unemployed dependants in our homes because of many factors, including HIV/AIDS. So it is a question of who puts food on our tables. Here is the opportunity for our relatives to be employed; should we give more regard to conserving the environment at the expense of fighting our own poverty honestly?"

UNESCO declared a 30km radius of Zimbabwean and Zambian territory around the Victoria Falls a World Heritage Site in 1989. Since then Zambia has ratified a number of international treaties, including the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.Zambian law on land tenure vests all national parks and gazetted sites in the hands of the state, and any lease of such land is subject to normal tender procedures.Sonny Mulenga, Zambia's first qualified land valuation surveyor and a former minister, said the land had not been advertised or subjected to any tender procedures.

"We are setting a very bad precedence for the future generation - land which is gazetted, as a World Heritage Site should never be given out for a song. No records have been given on who evaluated that land, and the amount in question is a mockery."

Environmental activists say the indiscriminate allocation of land to developers has contributed to the reduction of water levels in the Zambezi River, which feeds the Victoria Falls. Although local environmental regulations require development to stop at least 50m away from the river banks, several lodges have been constructed on the river's banks.

"The Victoria Falls is not as forceful as it should be and the Zambezi River is no longer flowing naturally, due to so much uncontrolled developments. We have disturbed the water cycle, and we shall pay heavily for this as a country," said Benjamin Mibenge, a local environmentalist and game ranger with over 20 years' experience. "Going by the high levels of river pollution, structures constructed on the banks, and the overcrowded boat-cruise companies, we may not boast of any tourism just a few years from now."

Source: Concerns mount over World Heritage Site status (The New Humanitarian, 14th November 2006)

Golf resort hits rough

The Sunday Times (London)
December 03, 2006

A group of British tour operators is urging a boycott of a hotel group in protest against the planned construction of a luxury resort complex at the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site in Zambia.

The South African-based Legacy Hotels Group, which owns five-star hotels, safari lodges and bush camps in Africa’s most popular safari destinations, has admitted that the vast 18-hole golf resort, comprising two hotels, 500 chalets and a country club in an important elephant habitat on the banks of the Zambezi, will cause “irreversible ecological damage” in the area.

Unesco has told the company that the development is “irresponsible” and has promised a worldwide campaign to discourage tourists from visiting the area.

The British safari operators Expert Africa, Rainbow Tours, Dragoman, Okavango Tours & Safaris, Aardvark Safaris and Wildlife Worldwide have pledged to support the boycott, proposed by the ecotravel specialist Tribes.

The director of Tribes, Amanda Marks, said: “We think that a campaign to stop this development should begin before construction gets under way and the prime elephant habitat on the banks of the Zambezi is bulldozed.” 

Source: Golf resort hits rough (The Sunday Times, 03/12/06)

Victoria Falls hotel fury

 The Times (UK), December 02, 2006

Richard Siddle

A plan to build a huge resort in a tiny Unesco national park is causing widespread anger.

BRITISH tourists are being urged to boycott a South African hotel chain over plans to build a multimillion-pound resort in a protected area near the Victoria Falls.

Legacy Resorts & Hotels International, the luxury African hotel chain, was handed a contract by the Zambian Government to build what will be a £136 million, 450-room hotel complex and golf course on Unesco-protected land in the Mosi-O-Tunya National Park, 6km from the falls.

Unesco’s World Heritage Committee has already expressed its concerns to the Zambian authorities over what it sees as the level of “uncontrolled, urban development, pollution and unplanned tourism development” in the protected park.

British and African tour operators are petitioning fellow companies to boycott the hotel chain if the deal goes ahead.

A final decision based on the developers’ environmental impact assessment is expected by December 15.

UK African specialist travel companies, including Tribes, Expert Africa, Rainbow Tours, Okavango Tours & Safaris, Aardvark Safaris, Dragoman and Wildlife Worldwide, have signed up to the boycott.

“The travel industry must get together to protest,” said Amanda Marks, managing director of Tribes. “If we do not, it will set a dangerous precedent in Africa.”

Roger Diski, managing director of Rainbow Tours, said: “It would be a disaster if it goes ahead. If you put that number of people into that kind of resort in that area the pressure on water and services would just be too much.”

John Spence, director, of Aardvark Safaris, said: “The national park is the size of a postage stamp. It is the only place in Zambia where you can see rhino, so to build a huge hotel there seems utter madness. It is important we bombard the Zambian Government and let it be known how strongly we feel about this.”

British operators recognise the economic impact a hotel of this size could have in terms of jobs, but are urging Legacy to look at alternative sites outside the protected national park.

“We are not against development per se. It is just we do not want the Victoria Falls area to be spoilt,” Diski said.

“We are not saying, don’t build at all, just could it be built successfully outside the protected area. If it can then it makes a nonsense of this proposal,” said Dick Sisman, the Association of Independent Tour Operators’ responsible tourism adviser and a member of the World Commission for Protected Areas.

A number of tour operators in Africa are also refusing to send clients to Legacy hotels’ other 21 African properties, according to Andrew Anderson, director of operations at travel firm African Insight. “We cannot support the principles of responsible tourism and still be seen to be doing business with the Legacy Group,” he said.

Legacy says that it is working with the Zambia Wildlife Authority and Zambia’s National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) on a project that will create 3,000 jobs and bring in 300,000 extra tourists.

Legacy refused to comment directly and instead referred The Times to an NHCC statement that the development will comply with “both national and international environmental guidelines for such an ecological and culturally sensitive site”.

Source:  Victoria Falls hotel fury (The Tiimes, 02/12/06)

Shearwater statement on Hwange elephant capture

Following a joint initiative by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe and Shearwater Adventures to capture and translocate 12 sub-adult elephants from a severely drought affected area of Hwange National Park, Shearwater has attracted some highly contentious criticism from various sources. The most vociferous of these include Sharon Van Wyk, free lance journalist for African Geographic and author of a recent overview of the Elephant Safari Industry and the US based Animal rights group- International Fund for Animal Welfare. (IFAW). Their criticism has been coupled with a call from some quarters to boycott Shearwater products.

This public condemnation has been made without any communication with Shearwater therefore we would like to take the opportunity to express our point of view.

Shearwater Background

Shearwater has been at the forefront of eco and wildlife tourism in Zimbabwe for 25 years. While operating as a commercial enterprise Shearwater has always recognized the need to lead by example and contribute to the preservation and promotion of Zimbabwe’s wildlife heritage. There are few environmental causes in Zimbabwe that we have not been involved in.

Through out this period we have maintained a close relationship with the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. The current sustained economic crisis has affected all aspects of Zimbabwean life including the National Parks where dedicated people continue to work tirelessly with meager resources to protect Zimbabwe’s wildlife legacy. There are few outside Zimbabwe who are prepared to offer assistance so those of us who remain face a daunting task.

In recent months Shearwater has assisted with the relocation of Rhino from distressed environments to greener and safer pastures and has provided Helicopter support to a Rhino poaching operation in Hwange. Shearwater has also been active in the "Save Hwange Campaign" and is currently working with National Parks and Wildlife Authority to expand our involvement in the maintenance and sourcing of water supplies in the Park. In undertaking these initiatives we have had many discussions with the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on the elephant population crisis in the park.

Elephant conservation debate

Many people within the wildlife industry have different views on what is the best policy with regards to elephant conservation. What is generally accepted by all is that human encroachment and loss of habitat is the single biggest factor in the decline of elephant populations throughout Africa. Perversely there are pockets were elephant populations hugely exceed the carrying capacity of the land and it is the management of these areas that causes such controversy within the conservation industry. Previous wildlife management policies have included culling, relocation, experiments with infertility drugs and non intervention.

At one end of the spectrum there are some passionate conservationists who believe the solution is to cull in order to preserve the habitat and at the other there are those who are equally passionate and believe that the natural cycle will eventually lead to regeneration. There is so much emotion attached to this debate that for many it is easiest to adopt a do nothing policy for fear of incurring the wrath of certain extremist sectors of the conservation community.

No answer has yet been found that addresses the problem to the satisfaction of most stakeholders and currently the non-interventionists seem to hold sway with a wide base of international support. However one thing that cannot be disputed is that over population in any given area results in further loss of habitat, shortages of food and water and huge stress for all the elephants and other species in the vicinity. In extreme circumstances, as has been seen in some areas of Zimbabwe in the last two years, this can, at worst, lead to a lingering death for many animals, elephants included.

Hwange National Park crisis

There are some respected environmentalists who support the non-interventionists process and argue that population implosion will be followed by regeneration and a natural balance will be restored.

It is one thing to support the theory from the sidelines but quite another to witness the devastating result.

Hwange National Park is probably the worst affected area in Southern Africa were the combined impact of elephant overpopulation, global warming induced climate change and meager resources are fuelling the perfect storm for a starvation based elephant implosion. Some estimate that over 1000 elephants have died during the last year alone. African Geographic reported 21 drought related elephant deaths in the Wilderness Safaris concession area last year which represents less than 4% of the Hwange Park and under Wilderness management represents the best maintained area of the park. The improved rains this year has made little difference to the elephant plight and Parks ecologists estimate that somewhere in the region of 100 elephants a year are dying in the area which was identified for the capture. The scale of the problem should not be underestimated.

The Sinamatela region of the park in the northern area contrasts vividly with Wilderness concession and was recently described by ex-National parks warden Mike Le Grange as a holocaust. Fire has further the area between the northern area of Hwange and Vic Falls. This is the region where the elephant capture took place.

The Elephant Back Safari Industry

The elephant back safari industry has always been viewed with a degree of suspicion by various conservation bodies a situation not helped by the participants themselves who have perpetuated myths, shrouded their activities in secrecy and engaged in protectionism. Some participants appear willing to go to extraordinary lengths to maintain a monopoly in the industry including vilification of other operators and manipulation of the facts.

In Sharon’s excellent report on the industry in African Geographic she states that there are approximately 130 domesticated elephants in Southern Africa. Many of these elephants are either cull orphans or young abandoned elephants. Most of these abandoned elephants were captured during the drought in Zimbabwe in the early 1990s often under harrowing circumstances. The reason many of these elephants were abandoned was because when faced with thirst and starvation elephant family unit structures collapsed as mature elephants maddened by thirst and hunger stormed from one dry water source to the next leaving the young and weak behind to fend for themselves. This is exactly the situation on the ground in some parts of Hwange today.

She concludes that although the animals she encountered are well cared for she is of the opinion that enough operators exist and no other elephants should be used for these purposes. A conclusion that will delight those elephant back safari operators who are intent on trying to monopolise the industry through the control and ownership of elephants which are already being used in the industry.

Shearwaters role in the elephant safari industry

Shearwater has operated Elephant Back Safaris on a very well managed private game reserve outside of Victoria Falls for almost 10 years. The land has been converted from a hunting concession into a wildlife sanctuary and it is here that our elephants thrive. They lead relatively stress free lives, and are loved and very well cared for by their handlers. They never go hungry or thirsty and they spend plenty of their time roaming freely.  The 6,000 acre reserve they live on is fenced but the elephants would be more than capable of breaking through the fence if they so desired.

Shearwater and National Parks of Zimbabwe Shearwater and National Parks of Zimbabwe agree on the following

• There is a chronic overpopulation of elephants in Hwange;
• The loss of habitat is accelerating;
• Many animals including elephants are dying due to the scarcity of food;
• Improved rains this year have done little to alleviate the situation;
• The situation will get worse;
• That the death of herd members as a result of drought and starvation is a far bigger contributor to the breakdown of family herd units than the capture of a small number of sub-adult animals for use in the tourism industry;
• We have to face the reality on the ground;
• We share a belief that the people of Zimbabwe must benefit from the wildlife resource and currently both the wildlife and the people are suffering as a result of severe economic hardship;
• We believe in sustainable utilisation of wildlife resources;
• We agree it is better to do something rather than nothing;
• We agree that we can expect little outside help and must try to find solutions which advantage the local environment and population without being pressurised by outside parties who do not share our realities.

Neither Shearwater nor the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe suggest that the habituation of elephants offers a lasting solution to elephant conservation in Hwange and recognise it barely scratches the surface of the problem. However we do agree that a live habituated elephant is infinitely preferable to a dead wild elephant and selective elephant capture and training has a role to play in this complex debate.

We recognise other Southern African countries may have different resource bases and alternative solutions and we are not qualified to comment on their situation. However we do feel that we are better qualified than others to determine what is best for Zimbabwe our elephants and our people.

We firmly believe that the selective capture of sub-adult elephants in Hwange, who we identify as the most vulnerable in the herd structure, achieves the following;

• Survival and a safe future for the elephants concerned;
• Reduces some of the strain on the remaining herds;
• Desperately required revenue for National parks which can be applied to assisting the Parks struggling infrastructure;
• Employment and revenue to Zimbabwe’s beleaguered people;
• A source of badly needed foreign currency;
• A resource to educate visitors about the elephant plight and to encourage further contributions to the conservation effort;
• An opportunity for Zimbabwe to remain the leaders in this fledgling industry.

The Hwange elephant capture 

In early November Shearwater successfully carried out a game capture exercise in an area of Hwange National Park which was identified by Parks as being particularly over populated and where the signs of stress and suffering from the elephant herds was self evident. Shearwater specifically targeted sub-adult elephants which are the most vulnerable and whose capture least affects the social structure of the herd. We choose animals that were displaying evidence of deterioration and which we believed we could help resuscitate. As a result 12 animals have now been translocated to Victoria Falls. Sadly one elephant did not survive the translocation and died soon after arrival at the game reserve due to its very poor condition.

This process was carried out by a highly respected game capture organisation and was closely monitored by both the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the SPCA. Whilst this exercise only improves the overpopulation problem in the area by a small degree it does, none the less, improve it and if that means that the pressure is reduced on other animals then we consider it a worthwhile exercise and a better option than either culling or non-intervention.

The future of elephant habituation

Shearwater respects that others may have different views on this subject and simply asks them to respect our views and the fact that we remain open and honest about our activities.

We recognise the important role that foreign organisations such as IFAW play in conservation but sometimes find their views at odds with the reality on the ground, particularly in countries such as Zimbabwe where their failure to consider any viewpoint other than their own makes open debate impossible. Attempts to vilify any commercial enterprise involving elephants may not be in best interests of the people of Zimbabwe or the elephants they claim to be protecting. Letting an elephant die of starvation to satisfy the utopian ideal far removed from the starkness of the actual situation is in our opinion the greater act of cruelty.

We welcome debate about the role of habituated elephants within the tourism industry and hope that we can participate in an honest and open manner.

We would welcome legislation, licensing and approved guidelines that establish:

Circumstances were elephant capture is desirable;

Criteria for selection of elephants;

Number controls;

Improved capture techniques;

Improved training methods;

Roles and responsibilities of licensed operators.

This can only be achieved if we:

dispel the myths;

bring the debate into the open;

drop the charade of protectionism adopted by some industry players;

Shearwater stands by it actions and is ready to face the challenge ahead.

Source: Shearwater statement on Hwange elephant capture (24/11/2006)

More on this issue:  SPCA battles Shearwater over elephants (19/04/07)

Statement on the wild elephant capture by Shearwater (24/01/2007)

Outcry over capture of wild elephants (12/11/06)

Elephants sent into Safari Slavery from Zimbabwe’s World Famous Hwange National Park (08/11/06)

Further Reading:  Captive Animal encounters: are they ethical? 


More from this blog: elephant-back safaris 

Victoria Falls could lose World Heritage status

Zambia's only listed World Heritage Site is under threat by plans to build a multi-million dollar tourism resort near the world-renowned Victoria Falls, a local environmental organisation is claiming. The tourist resort thus could dramatically lower the tourism value of the famous destination.
The government of Zambia has awarded 220 hectares of land in the 66 square kilometre Mosi-O-Tunya National Park at a cost of US$ 9 million, plus an undisclosed recurring levy, to South Africa's Legacy Group Holdings for development over a 75-year period under a tourism concession programme.

The national park is a World Heritage Site shared with neighbouring Zimbabwe, with the waterfalls as an international tourist drawcard. In the past, Zimbabwe was the main port of call for those wanting to visit Victoria Falls, but Zambia has become the preferred destination as a consequence of Zimbabwe's poor reputation and economic meltdown, which has seen annual inflation levels topping 1,000 percent - the highest in the world - with commonplace shortages of fuel, energy and food. 

"We have benefited so much from the booming tourism here but we may lose out, as UNESCO [the UN's cultural agency] has already indicated to us plans of withdrawing the status of Victoria Falls as a World Heritage Site, should the construction of a Legacy Hotel be allowed to go on in the park," Nicholas Katanekwa, chair of the Livingstone Tourism Association, told the UN media 'IRIN'.

Chairman of Legacy Holdings International, Bart Dorrestein, said the company would spend about US$ 260 million on building two hotels, 500 chalets and an 18-hole golf course. The proposed site is six kilometres upriver from Victoria Falls and lies between the Zambezi and Maramba rivers.

Donald Chikumbi, chief executive officer of the Livingstone-based National Heritage and Conservation Commission, said, "We have not received any correspondence from UNESCO to do with the allocation of this land in the Mosi-O-Tunya National Park to Legacy Holdings, but what we have received is a notice letter from UNESCO, informing us that a delegation of officials from UNESCO and the IUCN [International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources] will be coming to Livingstone on 20 November this year. 

"They are coming to do a ground inspection on how far Zambia and Zimbabwe have gone in terms of upholding the various protocols that have a bearing on the status of the Victoria Falls as a World Heritage Site but, of course, their coming might have been influenced, in a way, by whatever is being said and circulated about this World Heritage Site," he said.

Maureen Mwape, spokesperson for the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), declined to comment on the allocation of the land to Legacy Holdings. The Zambian portion of the World Heritage Site is jointly managed by ZAWA and the National Heritage Heritage Conservation Commission.

At a July meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, the committee cited concerns that "the integrity of the property [Mosi-O-Tunya National Park] remained threatened by uncontrolled urban development, pollution and unplanned tourism development."

Tourism has been designated a key sector for job creation and poverty relief by the government of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa. His pro-market economic policies have endeared him to Western donors, but have had little impact on addressing dire unemployment levels. Zambia, with a population of about 10 million, has about 400,000 formal-sector jobs, while two-thirds of the population survives on US$ 1 or less a day.

A recent World Bank report, 'Challenges of African Growth: Opportunities, Constraints and Strategic Directions', indicated that despite vast natural resources, and political stability since independence from Britain in 1964, income levels in Zambia had regressed.

"Zambia's and Côte d'Ivoire's per capita incomes have hardly progressed relative to their levels in 1960. Zambia's per capita income on average retrogressed at -0.6 percent per annum over the past 45 years and, as a result, its 2004 level of US$ 902 in 1996 international prices is 23 percent below the 1960 level of US$ 1,167", the World Bank said.

The Environmental Council of Zambia, a governmental watchdog, called a meeting in Livingstone, the tourism capital of Zambia, last Saturday to discuss the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report. The period for objecting to the proposed resort will close on 20 November.

Council spokesperson Justine Mukosa said the EIA encouraged "as wide participation of stakeholders as possible. Then, based on what all stakeholders say, and indeed on our own independent investigations and assessments, we shall soon come up with our final position on why the project should go ahead or not go ahead - we shall approve or disapprove the project."

The resort's promise of creating 2,000 jobs has elicted strong support for the project among local residents and organisations. "We, the people of Livingstone, want development. We want Legacy [Hotel] because we have suffered too much with joblessness and poverty," said Shadrick Mabote, a representative of senior chief Mukuni, in whose chiefdom the Victoria Falls is located. "We are ready to take any action against those opposing the project, and we can even walk up to State House [the presidential residence] in protest if anything is done to disturb Legacy from constructing the project in this land."

Livingstone, with a population of about 200,000 people, has not been spared the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic - about one in five sexually active adults is infected. Poverty and unemployment is pervasive. 

Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union deputy Secretary-General Michelo Chizyuka told 'IRIN' that "Each one of us keeps at least three unemployed dependants in our homes because of many factors, including HIV/AIDS. So it is a question of who puts food on our tables. Here is the opportunity for our relatives to be employed; should we give more regard to conserving the environment at the expense of fighting our own poverty honestly?"

But UNESCO had declared a 30 kilometres radius of Zimbabwean and Zambian territory around the Victoria Falls a World Heritage Site in 1989. Since then, Zambia has ratified a number of international treaties, including the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Zambian law on land tenure vests all national parks and gazetted sites in the hands of the state, and any lease of such land is subject to normal tender procedures.

Sonny Mulenga, Zambia's first qualified land valuation surveyor and a former minister, said the land had not been advertised or subjected to any tender procedures. "We are setting a very bad precedence for the future generation - land which is gazetted, as a World Heritage Site should never be given out for a song. No records have been given on who evaluated that land, and the amount in question is a mockery."

Environmental activists say the indiscriminate allocation of land to developers has already contributed to the reduction of water levels in the Zambezi River, which feeds the Victoria Falls. Although local environmental regulations require development to stop at least 50 metres away from the river banks, several lodges have been constructed on the river's banks.

"The Victoria Falls is not as forceful as it should be and the Zambezi River is no longer flowing naturally, due to so much uncontrolled developments. We have disturbed the water cycle, and we shall pay heavily for this as a country," said Benjamin Mibenge, a local environmentalist and game ranger with over 20 years' experience. "Going by the high levels of river pollution, structures constructed on the banks, and the overcrowded boat-cruise companies, we may not boast of any tourism just a few years from now."

Source: Victoria Falls could lose World Heritage status (14/11/06)

Outcry over capture of wild elephants

By Mike Cadman

During the capture operation in the 14 000 square kilometre Hwange National Park, game-capture specialists working for Victoria Falls-based tourism operator Shearwater Adventures isolated 12 elephants from family groups, darted the animals and removed them to holding bomas to be trained for use in captivity.

The capture flies in the face of the International Conservation Union (IUCN) and African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) recommendations that no wild elephants should be captured for use in captivity. The AfESG recommendation is endorsed by the South African-based Elephant Managers and Owners Association (Emoa) and increasing number of scientists, and local and international animal welfare groups, which say removing animals from family groups is psychologically damaging to both the captured animals and the wild herds and that training of elephants is inherently cruel.

Allen Roberts, the chief executive officer of Shearwater, said that the capture team involved was "highly respected" and while the capture was undertaken for commercial reasons it also helped relieve pressure on elephant populations in the park.

"Shearwater specifically targeted young elephants that were displaying evidence of deterioration and which we believed we could help resuscitate," Roberts said.

"Twelve animals have now been translocated to Victoria Falls. Sadly one elephant did not survive the translocation."

He said that the elephant-back safari in Zimbabwe, and one near Victoria Falls in Zambia, employed more than 200 people and brought about $2-million (about R15-million) to the regional economy.

Glynis Vaughan, the chief inspector of the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZimNSPCA), said that her organisation was outraged by the capture of the elephants and would approach the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to request that no further captures be permitted.

"What is happening to these animals is horrendous. We are definitely going to prosecute..

Jason Bell-Leask, the southern African director of the United States-based International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), condemned both the capture of wild elephants and the use of the animals in the elephant-back safari industry.

"It is disgraceful and a shame that any country or organisation is prepared to sanction the abuses inherent in capturing wild elephants and subjecting them to lives in captivity," Bell-Leask said.

Elephant-back safaris are conducted by a number of operators in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.

At present no elephant culling is undertaken in any of these countries and young elephants are highly sought after by the industry.

The first elephant-back safaris in South Africa were started five years ago and about 100 elephants are used by the industry.

Elephant safari operators say that no cruelty is involved in training elephants and most use the "reward" system of training that entails offering the animals food when they obey commands.

Those opposed to the industry say that training elephants is cruel and that the huge animals also pose a danger to handlers and tourists alike.

In South Africa two handlers have been killed, at least two visitors have been injured and at least one elephant has been put down because its owners felt it was a danger to humans.

The training of elephants in South Africa is largely unregulated except for provisions of the Animal Cruelty Act and the Performing Animals Protection Act and the industry is coming under increasing scrutiny by conservation authorities. This month conservation officials from all provinces requested the department of environmental affairs and tourism to issue a directive prohibiting the capture of elephants for use in captivity.

The provincial authorities said that "the removal of wild elephants for captivity is of no/little value to conservation and carries significant risks. It is not considered a humane alternative to culling".

Leseho Sello, the chief director of Biodiversity and Culture at the environment department, said this week: " can't make an overriding decision on the matter; it is a provincial issue. The minister is not in a legal position to take that action."

Source: Outcry over capture of wild elephants (12/11/06)

More on this issue:  SPCA battles Shearwater over elephants (19/04/07)

Statement on the wild elephant capture by Shearwater (24/01/2007)

Shearwater statement on Hwange elephant capture (24/11/2006)

Elephants sent into Safari Slavery from Zimbabwe’s World Famous Hwange National Park (08/11/06)

Further Reading:  Captive Animal encounters: are they ethical? 

More from this blog: elephant-back safaris 

Elephants sent into Safari Slavery from Zimbabwe’s World Famous Hwange National Park

Up to 15 wild juvenile elephants are being captured in Zimbabwe’s world renowned Hwange National Park this week, to be condemned to lives of captive suffering as safari entertainment for tourists.

The permits were issued by Zimbabwe National Parks, and the animals are being caught in the country’s largest game reserve, Hwange National Park in south-west Zimbabwe. They are to be moved to an elephant training camp owned by Shearwater Adventures near Victoria Falls.

IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare – www.ifaw.org) said it condemned the capture of the elephants for use in the elephant-back safari industry.

“It is disgraceful and a shame that Zimbabwe is prepared to sanction the abuses inherent in capturing wild elephants and subjecting them to lives in captivity. The fact that the animals are being taken from herds in Hwange, which is one of the world’s most renowned  game reserves, beggars belief,” said IFAW Southern Africa Director, Jason Bell-Leask.

Shearwater Adventures, one of Zimbabwe’s best known adventure tourism operators, has been given the permits to catch the elephants to be tamed and trained for use in their elephant-safari business.

The company, which on its website, says it is “environmentally friendly and ecologically sound”, is currently touting its range of adventure tourism activities – which include bungi jumping, white water rafting and walking with lions – at the World Travel Market exhibition in London this week.

The company currently has 11 elephants available for elephant-back safaris and for elephant interaction experiences. According to Shearwater Adventure’s website, their elephants are “rescued orphans” from Zimbabwe’s suspended culling operations. 

The Hwange elephants are to be captured from their wild family herds during the course of this week said a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA).

“Taking elephants from the wild for elephant-back safari tourism subjects the animals to entirely unregulated training methods that are open to abuse. No dedicated laws exist that governs methods used in training elephants.

“The elephant-back safari tourism industry typically claims that it is ‘saving’ young elephants from sure death in ‘culls’. IFAW disagrees - they are often taking young elephants from the wild to be subjected to confinement and training that is wrong, cruel and exploitative. The training pays no attention to the physical, behavioural, psychological and social needs of these highly intelligent creatures,” said Bell-Leask.

“This capture is shocking in the extreme and can only further damage Zimbabwe’s reputation as a conservation destination. IFAW urges all tourists to appreciate watching elephants in the wild, where they belong, and avoid cruel activities. ”

Notes

• The Zimbabwean National Society for the Protection of Animals (ZNSPCA) confirmed yesterday, 7 November, that Zimbabwe National Parks had issued at least 10 permits to Shearwater Adventures to capture the elephants.
• A ZNSPCA inspector is now in Hwange in an attempt to gain more information on the capture.
• Elephant specialists and other premier southern African national parks, such as the Kruger National Park in South Africa, say it is not appropriate to separate family groups.

Source: Elephants sent into Safari Slavery from Zimbabwe’s World Famous Hwange National Park (08/11/06)

More on this issue:  SPCA battles Shearwater over elephants (19/04/07)

Statement on the wild elephant capture by Shearwater (24/01/2007)

Shearwater statement on Hwange elephant capture (24/11/2006)

Outcry over capture of wild elephants (12/11/06)

Elephants sent into Safari Slavery from Zimbabwe’s World Famous Hwange National Park (08/11/06)

Further Reading:  Captive Animal encounters: are they ethical? 


More from this blog: elephant-back safaris 

Furore erupts over Vic Falls tourism project

PLANS to build a luxury hotel and country club estate in Zambia’s Mosi ao Tunya National Park have been met head-on by thunderous protest. The development, to be built and operated by South Africa’s Legacy Group, is located within the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site on what local conservationists are calling a “prime wildlife corridor”.

Various organisations are calling into question the Zambian Wildlife Authority’s (Zawa) decision to award a concession of this size in the Park. The Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia claims the resort is being built on a specifically identified narrow part of the park where elephant cross the river and move through to the gorges; “an area of major conservation importance for water birds and other wildlife”. The development, they say, is thus in direct contradiction with conservation efforts which seek to open up elephant corridors into Zambia in an attempt to ease pressure from elephant populations in Chobe and to bring elephant back into areas of Zambia where many have fled due to poaching in the past.

Zambia’s National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) has confirmed that the area in question has been earmarked for tourism development and that Legacy Holdings Zambia holds a tourism concession agreement with Zawa to develop the Mosi-oa-Tunya Hotel and Country Club Estate. Zawa and the NHCC claim that any proposed development in the World Heritage Site will be done within the context of the park’s management plan, as well as within national and international environmental guidelines for such an ecological and culturally sensitive site. “It is in this context that the proposed development by Legacy Holdings Zambia Limited should be understood that all is within the spirit of Environmental Requirements,” says NHCC Executive Director Donald Chikumbi.

Furore erupts over Vic Falls tourism project (17/10/2006)

Shearwater struggles for business

Shearwater Adventures, the leisure division of fast-food chain, Innscor International, is facing crippling viability problems because of reduced tourist arrivals.

The company is reportedly struggling to meet its financial obligations because of reduced earnings from tourism operations. Shearwater also faces a huge wage bill. The company is understood to be streamlining its activities to focus on those generating more income.

Innscor International managing director, Jeremy Brooke, confirmed that Shearwater had been seriously affected by the downturn in the tourism sector.

“The viability of Shearwater is under threat because there has been a huge decrease in the volume of foreign visitors,” said Brooke. He said the situation was impacting negatively on the company’s operations. “We are looking at ways to remain in business. We have had to discontinue the operations of the Balloon Company,” Brooke said. “Its contribution was insignificant compared to what we invested in the project.”

He also said Shearwater was shedding staff to reduce its unsustainable salary bill. “We are doing our best to keep most employees on the job but the whole sector is facing a downturn and it is impossible to retain everyone,” he said.

He said Shearwater had closed down most of its operations in Kariba and was mainly focusing on resuscitating the Victoria Falls operation. “Business in Kariba had become very low and we decided to dispose of it,” said Brooke.

He said the holding company was however investing in a food court in the town. “We are constructing a food court in line with our Exxomobile arrangement. We hope to have completed the project in the second quarter of 2005,” Brooke said. He said Innscor was now franchising its food outlets in the region because this was more profitable.

Brooke said franchising allowed customers to have more choice in quality brands. “It is not a new concept but it has become expensive to build food courts. We have realised that franchising them will open up the company’s market and at the same time allow our value brands to be available to all customers,” Brooke said.

He said due to the decrease in consumer disposable incomes, the business of running food outlets was declining. On the disposal of TV Sales and Hire, Brooke said they could not find a suitable partner to take up part of the shareholding. “We looked around and there was no suitable organisation which could buy TV Sales and Hire so we decided to discontinue the offer,” said Brooke. He said the company had no plans to dispose of TV Sales and Hire since it was recording a significant growth. “TV Sales has been growing significantly and we have no plans to dispose of it. It is amazing that the company’s cash sales are growing, showing that it is moving from credit to cash sales,” Brooke said.

Source: Shearwater struggles for business (30 July 2006)