The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) is deeply concerned by the increasing wildlife crimes with the recent death of six adult elephants allegedly killed by poisoning before their tusks were removed by suspected poachers last week at a watering hole at Gwayi, Shangani Wildlife Conservancy, near Hwange National Park.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo confirmed the deaths of the elephants to CITE, adding investigations were still ongoing to establish the cause of the deaths. He said:
“We have an incident where six elephants were found dead in Gwayi/Shangani area, but we cannot ascertain the cause of the death because the elephants were found in a decomposing state,” said Farawo.
“Our veterinary doctors are investigating the cause but at the moment we do not know what happened so we can’t say it’s poisoning because we can’t confirm that,” he added.
Elephant poaching in Zimbabwe is a critical issue that has over the years threatened the conservation and survival of these majestic animals. The illegal hunting and killing of elephants for their ivory tusks, which are highly valued on the black market has been a cause for concern.
Zimbabwe, like many other African countries, has been grappling with the challenges of elephant poaching due to various factors, including demand for ivory, poverty, corruption, and limited resources for wildlife conservation and law enforcement.
The impacts of elephant poaching are far-reaching. Not only does it lead to the loss of individual elephants and disrupt their social structures, but it also has severe ecological consequences for the entire ecosystem. Elephants play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, shaping habitats, and dispersing seeds, so their decline can have cascading effects on the environment.
CNRG has over the years been working to raise awareness, strengthen legislation, and improve enforcement to the protection of elephants and their habitats.
Efforts to combat elephant poaching in Zimbabwe should involve a multi-faceted approach that includes community engagement, anti-poaching patrols, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with international organizations and law enforcement agencies.
While the fight against elephant poaching in Zimbabwe remains an ongoing challenge, there have been some commendable successes in recent years. These include successful anti-poaching operations, the apprehension and prosecution of poachers, and the implementation of conservation programs that focus on sustainable management and protection of elephant populations.
However, continuous efforts and international collaboration are essential to address this issue effectively and ensure the long-term survival of elephants in Zimbabwe and across Africa.