'Cecil effect’ leaves park’s lion at risk of cull

Bubye Valley Conservancy says it may have to cull 200 lions due to overpopulation and "the Cecil effect"

By Peta Thornycroft in Bubye Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe

20 Feb 2016

It is the country where Cecil the lion was killed, sparking international anger against the American dentist who shot him.

The outcry over Walter Palmer’s killing of Cecil drove other big-game hunters away from Zimbabwe, fearful they too would attract the opprobrium of the public. But in what is being described as a side-effect of the affair, Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife area says it now finds itself suffering from an overpopulation of lions.

Bubye Valley Conservancy has more than 500 lions, the largest number in Zimbabwe’s diminishing wildlife areas.

It has warned that its lion population has become unsustainable and that it may even have to cull around 200 as a result of what is being called “the Cecil effect”.

Now Bubye is appealing for other institutions or wildlife sanctuaries to take some of its lions.

Conservationists estimate about half of Zimbabwe’s wildlife has disappeared since Robert Mugabe’s seizure of white-owned land began in 2000, but Bubye has held on by attracting wealthy hunters whose fees support its wildlife work.

But last year’s shooting of Cecil, in a conservancy bordering Hwange National Park, sparked a huge backlash against big-game hunting.

Plummeting oil prices have further led to a drop in the number of visitors from US states such as Texas, from where traditionally large numbers of hunters go to Zimbabwe.

Bubye’s lions are decimating populations of antelope, along with other animals such as giraffe, cheetah, leopards and wild dogs, after the driest summer on record kept grasses low and made the small game easy targets.

Blondie Leathem, general manager of Bubye Valley Conservancy, said: “I wish we could give about 200 of our lions away to ease the overpopulation. If anyone knows of a suitable habitat for them where they will not land up in human conflict, or in wildlife areas where they will not be beaten up because of existing prides, please let us know and help us raise the money to move them.”

In the Forties, there were thought to be as many as 450,000 lions on Earth, but today they are classed as “vulnerable”, with numbers feared as low as 20,000.

Conservationists fear that without a concerted push, particularly in high-risk areas of central and west Africa, their numbers could halve again in the next two decades because of human-animal conflict and reduced habit and food supplies.

Bubye, along with some game parks in neighbouring countries, has been bucking the trend, according to a recent study, with healthy lion populations in “small, fenced, intensively managed, funded reserves”.

The conservation area was founded 22 years ago by Charles Davy, the rancher father ofChelsy Davy, Prince Harry’s former girlfriend. It is now majority-owned by Dubai World, the investment fund of the wealthy emirate’s government.

Millions of pounds were spent fencing 2,000 square miles of land previously cleared of wildlife by decades of cattle farming. The fence was then electrified and hundreds of people were hired to protect wildlife imported to the park.

Bubye also supports schools and clinics in several districts and provides meat every month for people nearby.

When the Telegraph visited Bubye in early February a matriarch lioness called Matilda, her sisters and her latest litter of cubs were lazing in the shade under mopane trees.

Matilda – which was fitted with a radio collar by the Oxford University researchers that also collared Cecil – eats at least 10lb of meat every day.

Pieter Kat, director of Lion Aid, a UK-based charity, said contraception should have been introduced at the conservancy years ago. “It’s too late now,” he said. “There is nowhere in Africa which could take so many lions.”

Paul Bartels, a wildlife scientist from South Africa’s Tshwane University of Technology, said female contraceptive implants used in smaller reserves would be impractical for Matilda’s clan.

“There are a lot of lions on that [Bubye] conservancy. It would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for contraception to make any real difference,” he said.

Oxford’s lion research project in Zimbabwe, which monitored Cecil, said that the Bubye conservancy was “a huge success story” in a region blighted by a lack of governmental help for its struggling wildlife sector.

Mr Leathem insisted he was not a hunter but a conservationist, and had no option but to maintain “sustainable” hunting to safeguard Bubye’s future.

Source: 'Cecil effect’ leaves park’s lion at risk of cull (21/02/16)

Dead Poachers Found Floating In The Zambezi River

Two bodies of suspected Zambian poachers found floating on the Zambezi River on Valentine’s Day were retrieved by Zimbabwean police this week, days after they escaped an ambush.

By Judith Sibanda

Victoria Falls, February 20, 2016

The duo were part of a suspected poaching syndicate who escaped after exchanging gun fire with police in the Jambezi area on February 6.

Superintendent Dominic Sibanda, the officer commanding Victoria Falls police, said relatives the two men were in Zimbabwe to collect their bodies. "The two bodies were spotted on February 14  by spotted by fishermen who were at the Zambezi River near Jambezi,” he said.

“They reported the matter and we went to rescue them but we couldn't find them until yesterday (Thursday). 

“They were both naked and the other had both legs missing." 

Sibanda said the names of the deceased could not be released until they were positively identified by their relatives who had returned to Zambia to get proper documents.

He said an accomplice of the suspected poachers had admitted that the group had crossed into Zimbabwe to illegally hunt wild animals.

"Initially the suspected refused to cooperate but his eyes were guilty,” Sibanda said.

“We then interrogated him after finding the names of the six accused and it showed that they were together. 

“He admitted and said they had come to poach as it was their business.

He said the two deceased poachers’ relatives had asked for the bodies from the police.

"The families together with Zambian police came to our office this afternoon  (Friday ) seeking for release of  their and they indicated to us that one of the suspects who is still at large said they had died in the river after failing to cross,” Sibanda said.

“We told them that we had taken the bodies to Bulawayo. They are from Lusaka.  We sent them back to go and collect all their documents so that we release the bodies."

Meanwhile, one of the suspected members of the syndicate Chistopher Malasa Mandaya (35) appeared at the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and dagga.

Mandaya is accused of  entering Zimbabwe illegally after he was arrested a fortnight ago in Jambezi.

He was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before Rangarirai Gakanye and was remanded in custody to February 22.

Prosecutor Listen Nare said Mandanya and five accomplices who were still at large were spotted by Jambezi villagers moving around the area carrying firearms.

On February 6, police laid an ambush at night and spotted the group.

Police fired warning shots and the suspects returned fire but Mandaya was eventually arrested.  

He was found in possession of 25 rounds of ammunition, two axes and butcher knives and two kilogrammes of dagga.

Source:Dead Zambian Poachers Found Floating In The Zambezi River (20/02/16)

Zimparks to use drones to fight poachers

ZIMBABWE Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) officials are considering using drones, helicopters, sniffer dogs and surveillance cameras in fighting poachers in country's game parks. 

Zimparks director-general Edison Chidziya told Parliament Monday on the plans.

"We are working with other law enforcement agencies on regulatory frameworks on use of drones.

"There are various suppliers of such technology and once the regulatory framework is finalised, we will look at using such technology."

"We managed to detect 8 000 incursions in Parks estates since last year and 145 poachers. 45 poachers were accounted for, as well as 29 poaching foreign nationals. We have seen a trend where local involvement in poaching is increasing."

In 2013 a total of 105 wild animals were lost through poisoning in Hwange, while in 2015 about 100 animals were poisoned with 32 lost at one particular site.


Source: Zimparks to use drones to fight poachers (16/02/16)

Victoria Falls game fence causes divisions

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter

A WAR is looming among tour operators in Victoria Falls after a businessman fenced off part of Chamabondo Forest in a development that will affect tourism activities as an animal corridor has been blocked.

Proprietors of Landela Complex which runs Landela Lodge in Masue, have erected a fence across Chamabondo Forest in a move some operators have said would push them out of business.

The same land has been earmarked by the government for establishment of a recreational theme park between Victoria Falls International Airport and Masue River.

Two tour operators Lion Encounter and Adventure Zone who are leasing an area in Chamabondo Forest have since been told to vacate as they have been encircled by the fence.

Landela Complex owner businessman Stewart Cranswick represented by his consultant Trevor Lane erected the fence stretching from the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road at Masue Bridge to Stanley and Livingstone Lodge more than 4km away.

The two-metre high fence seen by The Chronicle yesterday, also cuts across Masue River up to the railway line along the highway and extends westwards towards Nakavango area.

Even game drives in Chamabondo National Park operated by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority will be affected as the fence closes off the game area.

Affected tour operators have approached the Affirmative Action Group over the issue complaining that no Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out in terms of the Environmental Management Act.

Brent Williams from Adventure Zone said no consultations were done.

“We wonder what could be happening because there was no consultation as we only saw a fence being erected.

“They’ve closed the game corridor and we wonder if we’ll still have access to our area of operation because that’s all we need,” he said.

Naison Webb from Lion Encounter confirmed that they had been given a notice to vacate.
“We were told last year and because land isn’t ours we’re looking for alternative space for our activities.

“If we fail to get one that means our business will be affected,” said Webb.

Lane said Lion Encounter and Adventure Zone would be removed from the area.

“I don’t know if any other operators will be affected but those operating from there have been told to seek alternative places.

“I can’t explain further because that’s not my land as I’m a consultant for Cranswick,” he said.
Authorities at Stanley and Livingstone lodge refused to allow Lane to join the fence to theirs.

“I don’t want to be seen commenting for now but we couldn’t allow their fence to be joined to ours.
“They also wanted their solar panels in our premises but we couldn’t allow that,” said wildlife manager at Stanley and Livingstone, Ian Dupreez.

AAG Victoria Falls chapter vice president Tonderai Mutasa said there were fears of fierce animal-human conflict as wildlife will now be forced to cross between Fuller Forest and Chamabondo through residential areas.

Source: Game fence irks Victoria Falls tour operators (10/02/16)

Tourist arrivals up 9 percent

Tourist arrivals were largely driven by African visitors who pass through Zimbabwe.

Preliminary statistics show that Zimbabwe recorded a 9 percent increase in tourist arrivals last year to 2 million, largely driven by African visitors who pass through Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Karikoga Kaseke told delegates at the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism convention last week that data from the country’s smaller ports of entry is still to be collated. “I will give you the figures, which are still preliminary. In 2014, we received 1,8 million. In 2015, our arrivals increased by 9 percent and we are now slightly over 2 million,” Mr Kaseke said.
“The figures are, however, preliminary in the sense that other figures from the smaller border posts have not been collated,” he said

The ZTA chief executive said Africa contributed 1,76 million, Americas 76 751, Asia 35 000, Europe 149 000, Middle East 3 990 and Oceania 25 000 from 26 000 in 2014. “We are happy with that performance. We want to look at the receipts from that 2 million to see whether it contributed the same percentage in economic growth terms.

“Our major worry, which we have been talking about for a long time in the ministry are arrivals from outsource markets . . . the overseas markets. We use 1999 as our base line because that is when we received the highest ever number of tourists in the country, which was almost 2,5 million,” he said.

And in 1999, overseas, (Europe, America, Asia and Middle East contributed 30 percent to the arrivals but in 2015 they accounted for just 14 percent. “The issue is quite disturbing. We would be happy if we could recover that market.” This is because the visitors have an average expenditure of $1 600 person per visit while African visitors spend on average $150 per person per visit.

Mr Kaseke said the country’s tourism receipts have grown from about $500 million in 2009 to about $827 million in 2014. It is expected that receipts will show an increase for the just ended year.
While Mr Kaseke would not give regional comparisons using latest figures for 2015, he gave insights of the performance of countries in the regions, which is dominated by neighbouring South Africa.

The ZTA boss said that in terms of regional market share South Africa received the largest chunk at 42 percent in 2014, Botswana and Mozambique 9 percent each, Angola and Zimbabwe (8) each, Swaziland and Tanzania (5) each, Malawi and Zambia (4) each, Angola (3), Lesotho (2) and DRC (1).

Globally, Africa recorded a 3 percent drop to 53 million international tourist arrivals last year as the rest of the world recorded a surge in visitors, latest statistics from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) show.

According to the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, the North African region, at 8 percent, accounted for the biggest drop in arrivals on the continent while sub-Saharan Africa recorded a one percent decrease.

The drop in arrivals in North Africa was likely influenced by disturbances in the region and a ban on international flights to Egypt in the last quarter of the year by countries such as Russia and Britain after a plane carrying tourists crashed.

“Limited available data for Africa points to a 3 percent decrease in international arrivals, reaching a total of 53 million,” the UNWTO said, noting that availability of data on the continent remained scarce.

“In North Africa arrivals declined by 8 percent and in sub-Saharan Africa by one percent though the latter returned to positive growth in the second half of the year.”

The UNWTO, however, anticipates that Africa will rebound this year, registering a growth of between 2 and 5 percent in arrivals.

Despite the slump registered in Africa, overall international tourist arrivals surged 4,4 percent to 1,2 billion in 2015.

Source: Tourist arrivals up 9 percent (15/02/16)

Demining activities underfunded

Zimbabwe - The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence has urged the government to allocate more resources towards clearing landmines, which continue to pose a great risk to humans and livestock, particularly along border areas.

VENERANDA LANGA

The committee chairperson, Ronald Muderedzwa told the National Assembly on Tuesday that shortage of manpower and equipment in the Defence ministry hampered demining activities.“Other challenges experienced include insects, namely the morphine flies, which produce an irritating sound to the ear, thereby reducing the rate of concentration for the deminers.”

Muderedzwa said explosive remnants of the war occasionally injured people and animals, while also negatively affecting tourism.

The worst affected areas include Victoria Falls to Mlibizi, Mukumbura to Rwenya, Sheba Forest to Beacon Hill, Burma Valley, Rusitu to Muzite Mission, Sango Border Post to Crooks Corner and Border Streams.

The army demining squad was currently being assisted by organisations such as the Norwegian People’s Aid, the United States government and donations from other European countries.

The committee said the $100 000 allocated for the demining exercise each financial year was too little and could not sustain such an enormous programme.

“Government should engage the donor community to assist in the clearing of landmines, as a matter of urgency. Compensation for landmine victims should be honoured in terms of the War Victims Compensation Act. Ordinary civilians living in the border areas, where landmines were laid continue to bear the brunt of the war, long after the country was liberated,” Muderedzwa said.

Chiredzi South MP Callisto Gwanetsa (Zanu PF) said his constituency was one of the worst affected, citing Crooks Corner, which is a 53 kilometre-long minefield stretching to Sango Border Post.

“The area in my constituency affected by landmines is 40 000 hectares. You cannot farm, practice ranching or tourism. People are dying, and if they die or get injured in that area you cannot remove them. They rot there. If domestic animals stray into the area, they die there, he said.

Gwanetsa said more than 50 people in the constituency had been injured.

Buhera West MP Oliver Mandipaka (Zanu PF) suggested that MPs must contribute $100 each towards the demining exercise and to assist the victims.

Source: Demining activities underfunded (14/02/16)

Tourism arrivals increase: Kaseke

Zimbabwe recorded a 9% increase in tourist arrivals in 2015. The 2015 figures shot to 2 056 588 compared to 1 880 028 for 2014, driven by visitors from the American region, an official has said.

Giving his presentation on current and future trends in travel and tourism  in Zimbabwe at the 2016 Tourism Convention held in Victoria Falls last week, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Karikoga Kaseke said the industry had started showing signs of recovery. 

Compared to 2014 figures, America increased its contribution by 15%, Oceanic (13%), followed by Africa and Europe with 10% and 9% respectively. Middle East dropped by 38%, as did Asia by 16%.

However, Kaseke noted that poor quality, quantity and lack of diversity continued to dog the tourism sector in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe has become a very expensive destination vis-a-vis our competitors in the region. [There is] very poor service in the tourism industry [and] personnel lacks passion in serving customers, a major key to success in tourism business,” he said.

He said brand Zimbabwe was not doing very well in major source markets and there was poor destination accessibility.

“[There is] lack of adequate and quality transport services [local, regional and international], and also an absence of a strong national airline, poor facilitation at ports, particularly Beitbridge, and also poor access to attractions — dysfunctional feeder roads,” Kaseke said.

He said there was lack of real skills to drive efficient service in the industry.

Kaseke said the industry aimed to surpass 3,5 million in arrivals by 2020.

It also intended to increase average length of stay to nine days and eight nights by 2020 from the four days and three nights in 2014,” he said.

The industry also wants to increase tourism receipts from $827 million to more than $3 billion, as well as increase tourism contribution to GDP from 11% in 2014 to 15% by 2020

It also aims to increase the contribution of tourism to direct, indirect and induced employment from about 180 000 in 2014 to over 350 000 by 2020.

Source: Tourism arrivals increase: Kaseke (14/02/16)