The Kariba Elephants are in DANGER ….. Please take the time to read this
and send it on!!
Hello All out there who have an interest in conservation …..!! In haste
and for your info ……..! Something that horrifies me, and am sure will
do the same with you.
National Parks are going to cull Elephants to feed crocodiles. Apparently
they are going ahead with a plan to build their own Croc Farm here in
Kariba. Nothing wrong with the Farm proposal, but what worries me sick is
……… the fact that they propose to feed the crocs with OUR ELEPHANT!!
They intend to cull between 50 and 100 Elephants per year to feed the
bloody croc’s. We DO NOT have that sort of population here. Most of our
Ele’s are ‘tame’ … human orientated and gentle old creatures! If they even
shoot 50. that will be the end of our Kariba elephant population? And they
DO NOT have the right to shoot them in the first place?? They do NOT own the
animals …… although they like to think so!!!
They propose to put this farm right in the middle of the Kaburi wilderness
game area, on the shoreline opposite Zebra and Antelope Islands. Obviously
so that they have direct access to any Elephant wondering past, and the
remaining Buffalo and whatever is left there, for food to feed their
croc’s.
We cannot allow this to happen …… and we MUST try by all means to
block this proposed program!
Even more distressing is that they have the backing of Wayne Horsley. He
is apparently a Pro Guide, and is going to be involved with the setting up
of
the farm, and then managing the same …… and with the shooting of the
Elephant. (What a disgrace as far as I’m concerned!! ) He has already shot
one (injured by a snare) Elephant out by the Banana farm in an attempt to
work out what the meat will weigh, and subsequently how many Elephants
will need to be shot to feed the crocs for a year??
Kariba thrives on it’s Ele population. Most of them are well acquainted
with humans and traffic, and are a pleasure to have around …. especially
as a draw for the few tourists we get here!
PLEASE help us protect them by spreading the word about this disastrous
idea ….. and in the case of some of you, get it to the knowledge of
C.I.T.E.S. and any other international organisation interested in
conservation who may be able to block these bloody fools in Nat Parks.
I have passed this info on to Johnny Rodriguez of ZCTF and to a journalist
mate of mine in the UK in the hope that it will become international news.
We need to involve others like them to help us save the Elephant
here in Kariba. So please spread the word ………
Cheers for now, and look forward to your assistance.
Best regards,
Geoff Blyth.
P O Box 196, Kariba
Zimbabwe