The ZCTF [Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force] have been busy rescuing wildlife in Zimbabwe. Johnny Rodrigues from the ZCTF has taken time from his work to talk about the progress in preserving and rescuing wildlife since the formation of the Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe.

 

Here is the interview as conducted via E Mail between Zimbabwe and Miami, Florida.

 

1. With the Government of National Unity in power, what are the possibilities of a decrease in the incidence of poaching?

Well, I was really hoping that the ministry of Environment was going to be given to one of the MDC guys because Morgan Tsvangirai is very concerned about the wildlife but it has remained in the hands of the same people who have been in power for the past 30 years or so. I was also hoping there would be changes in National Parks but all the same people are still there as well so if anything, the poaching seems to be getting worse now.

 

2. Wild Animals have been detected in urban areas. Besides the incidence of the Greystone Park Resident and his dog, have their been other incidence of urban residents and wild animals that you know of?

Serval cats have been seen, also in the Greystone Park area and of course there are the 3 elephants in Mutare which is an urban area.

 

3. The ZNSPCA captured ten wild elephants without the knowledge or the approval of the Director General of National Parks. The DIrector General of National Parks has reassured the ZNSPCA that it did not issue permits for the ten wild elephants. Did this occur because of a lack of communications?

I have now found out that National Parks DID in fact issue a permit. The ZNSPCA has seen it.

 

4. What are the organizations who have been assisting in the preservation of wildlife in Zimbabwe?

The only ones I know of are the ones I work with – the ZNSPCA and AWARE Trust. AWARE is run by 2 wildlife vets, Keith Dultow and Lisa Marabini. They do a lot of animal rescues and they are always prepared to help when I ask them.

 

5. Will more help be necessary?

Yes. We need as much help as we can get.

 

6. The situation in Mutare appears dire when it comes to wild animals. Can the City of Mutare kill a wild animal with or without permission of the Director General of National Parks?

It is not the City of Mutare who wants to kill the elephants. National Parks themselves are the ones who want to shoot them.

 

7. What can people do to alleviate the situation in Mutare?

Nothing really. The only thing we can do is move the elephants to a wildlife area.

 

8. Who is Karen Trendler?

She has a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa and she knows a lot about elephants and rhino etc. She takes orphaned animals, looks after them until they are old enough to be released back into the wild. 

 

9. What are the plans of Karen Trendler for the wildlife of Zimbabwe?

Well actually, I misunderstood the part about Karen Trendler. The ZNSPCA emailed her to ask her to come and inspect the elephants and I thought she had agreed but I have now been told that she hasn’t replied to the email yet. It’s possible she isn’t near her computer because she spends a lot of time in the bush so I don’t think she’s even seen the email yet.

 

For Johnny and ZCTF, many thanks for taking time to participate in this interview. It is a pleasure and an honour to speak with ZCTF about wildlife in Zimbabwe.