After losing about 26 percent of its rhino population to poachers, Zimbabwe now faces expulsion from the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
As a consequence of losing nearly 200 rhinos to rampant poaching over the last three years, Zimbabwe reportedly has six months to comply with CITES – or face expulsion.
Zimbabwe government officials suspected in poaching surge
Consequences for escalating rhino killings in Zimbabwe have been tragically lacking, as it is widely believed that high-ranking government officials and politicians are connected to organized poaching gangs, funded by demand for rhino horn in China and Vietnam.
While a recent report declared Zimbabwe and South Africa the epicenter of the rhino poaching crisis, it was noted that the prosecution rate in Zimbabwe is suspiciously low – less than 3%.
According to The Zimbabwe Times, government officials are suspected in the unchecked poaching which has been occurring throughout the country’s wildlife sanctuaries.
Poaching is allegedly rampant in the Gonarezhou and Hwange National Parks, where it is believed that senior Zanu-PF politicians and government officials are indiscriminately killing wildlife.
In addition to uncontrolled poaching, Zimbabwe’s wildlife sanctuaries have been invaded by people displaced by the current government.
However the country is failing to control poaching activities due to, among other things, the presence of farm invaders who moved into the sanctuaries during the height of farm invasion with the tacit approval of President Robert Mugabe’s government.
In Gonarezhou national park about 720 families from the Chitsa clan have invaded the extensive park. They have refused to vacate the park, arguing that they are just repossessing their land.
Despite growing evidence to the contrary, Zimbabwe’s director of Parks and Wildlife Management Authority denies that government officials are involved in the poaching surge.
We have banned all hunting activities in our sanctuaries in order to control poaching activities. Our investigations have not nailed any politician as has been reported in the press.
How to help wildlife in Zimbabwe
To learn more about how you can help Zimbabwe’s wildlife, please visit Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.
Source: The Zimbabwe Times
Image: flickr.com/runfreefall/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
About Rhishja Cota-Larson
