Although not quite a “comrades” marathon, the prospect of running in the winding Vumba roads, exquisite scenery and of course the intoxicating mountain air appealed to quite a number of people. At the end of registration, nearly 200 runners had signed up, though this is not a guarantee that everyone will run the race. However, as is the case with first time events, there is always an element that cannot be anticipated.

The day of the race dawned with the ever-present morning mist and of course a light drizzle which feel gently upon the awaiting runners. The Vumba race comprised of three distances, all starting at different points but having one grand finish line. Nervous energy was amplified by thoughts of running the event in the rain, making sure all the runners were at their correct starting points and hoping that they could find their way! They say that running is a lonely sport but this could not have been further from the truth with the camaraderie and enthusiasm of the runners as they awaited the start. The very essence of the Vumba seemed to participate, as the mist gently lifted to reveal the picturesque montane forest and its enigmatic wildlife. Speaking of which, a rather special participant needs to be mentioned here; the Vumba zebra stallion. The 21 km race started near a Vumba landmark – Tony’s coffee shop and as the starter’s gun fired and the runners surged forth, so did the Vumba’s very own Zebra stallion. Compelled by his herd instinct, the four-legged runner led the pack for the first 300 meters of the race, wondering I am sure what everyone was running from! Perhaps his sense of curiosity took the better of him when he decided to stop and gracefully let all the other runners past – surveying the troops as they carried on. Who really knows what was going through his equine mind and maybe it was his way of making the Vumba more memorable because one thing is for sure, those runners will be talking about it for quite a while.

In addition to the race being unprecidently started by a non-human, there was also a spirit of “going for green” in that some of the runners were painted green! A statement of solidarity, green represented the mountains, wildlife and of course an overall sense of empathy for the environment. Amongst the green faced warriors were several members of the WEPU scouts, some Zimbabwe Parks personnel and the new Warden of the Botanical Gardens Dominic Mubvanyika. Also with a great display of dedication, a special mention must go to Martin Stiemer of Animal Lifeline who is responsible for training the WEPU scouts, who ran the 10km race in borrowed shorts, a green face and loafers! Allegiance to a good cause knows no bounds when you truly believe in it.

In addition to this race bringing business and interest to the Vumba, it also provided sponsorship to our WEPU team (Wildlife and Environment Protection Unit). This unit has operated in the Vumba for a year now and the evidence of their hard work and commitment is very apparent. Perhaps the best form of gratitude for this dedication is shown by the wildlife, who in turn are showing themselves more and more, with sightings of leopard and cubs, samango monkeys and the rare blue duiker becoming more frequent. Not to mention a singular charismatic zebra.  In September 2011, Martin Stiemer of Animal Lifeline, went to the Vumba to under take our first refresher course with the WEPU scouts as well as the rangers from National Parks.  We do feel that these refresher course, are vital to keep the scouts performance on track as well as to iron out any issues which might have been discovered over the past year.  So a very big thank you goes to Martin for not only his expertise but for believing in our WEPU Vumba project and his continued support.

Some statistics on the WEPU operations and results during the past twelve months:

Day patrols: 214 days

Night patrols: 21 days

Snares, whip traps, gin traps and other illegal traps recovered: 948

Total arrests: 32

We need to commend these very dedicated people, 8 scouts in total, for this phenomenal result. In addition we would like to mention that this work would also not be possible without the guidance, co-operation and leadership of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority staff of the Vumba and surrounds.

This event has marked the re-discovery of one of Zimbabwe’s hidden jewels, the Eastern highlands. For those of us having the privilege of working and or living in the Vumba we would like to offer profuse thanks to the hosts Leopard Rock Hotel and Casino for holding this event and also to the race organisers and participants for raising some sponsorship for WEPU.

We now encourage you the public to visit the Vumba if you haven’t before or if you have already, go back and repeat the wonderful experience of the magical mystical mountains. Oh and next time, bring your running shoes……

How do you give an animal such as a pangolin a true value?  For me these unknown creatures are priceless, the worlds they live in we still have not come to fully understand and with each experience I have, with these mystical animals I am left with feelings of total awe as well as sadness to what we as a fellow species continues to do to the pangolin both in Africa and Asia.

Recently the Tikki Hywood Trust, was involved with a court case, involving the poaching and selling of a male pangolin.  The case has finally come to an end with a conviction of both men involved being found guilty on both accounts.  Unfortunately the sentencing was not exactly what we had hoped for but it is nonetheless a step in the right direction.  Both men, Stephen Chizema and Prince Muusha were convicted on the 1st count of having a specially protected animal, US$200 or 30 days imprisonment, 3 months suspended for 3 years on condition of good behaviour.  The second account, US$50 or 10 days imprisonment for cruelty.  The reason for this seemingly light sentence was that the guilty parties did not benefit from the crime, they did not kill the pangolin and it was only by chance that they found the pangolin and unlawful possession and cruelty were done of out of ignorance.

This conviction most certainly does not do justice for what this male pangolin was put through over what we believe is at least a week of immense stress.  The first prize with regards to this case, was that we managed to release the pangolin back into the wild after we had him for only three days.  Normally with this type of court case the evidence (which in this case was the pangolin) has to remain in possession or captive for the entire hearing.  That would have been two months whereby I fear he would have most certainly have died.  The older the pangolins are, the less likely they are to adapt to a captive environment, their diets of solely ants and or termites being the biggest challenge.  At long last we have managed to persuade Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authorities to increase the poaching fine for pangolins from the current value of US$500 to US$5000.  As stated to the Court, pangolins are Specially Protected and hence we have to do everything when trying to protect them.  It is hoped that this increase will act more as a deterrent against people wanting to poach them from their natural environment.

This has been the first case which I have been actively involved with from the beginning to end and I have to say I have learnt so much as to the how’s, why’s and why not our judicial system works.  The process is incredibly lengthy and there are so many different procedures to go through before there is change.  In total I attended court 7 times before I had to stand before the magistrate as a witness to the cruelty that the pangolin had been subjected to.  The detectives involved in the arrests of the two convicted men, had to attend the court 9 times before they had both given their testament to court.  So in the time, fuel and energy, the conviction does not justify those costs, let alone the trauma that was caused to the pangolin.  There is so much education that is required for our court systems to be come more compassionate towards wildlife crimes and take a much more active part in making sure that the culprits are charge accordingly.   In conclusion, we understand that there is a lot to address from when an animal is captured, the arresting of the perpetrators and their prosecution.  Our Zimbabwe CID border control investigators did a fantastic job with arresting these two men as well as attending all the required court dates, my thanks goes to them as well as to the Public Prosecutor who prosecuted the case so admirably.

“They don’t mean to bite” – a mantra that I said to myself over and over during the three days that we were in Bikita, running the fourth domestic animal sterilization program co-ordinated by the Tikki Hywood Trust. Looking into the eyes of these rural dogs, there is no malice, no intent to hurt, only a desire not to be hurt themselves.  I have yet to meet animals as forgiving as these ones, often living on whatever they can scavenge, fending for themselves against other dogs and now a new threat to the area – hyenas. Yet despite the day to day hardships they face, they submit themselves to prodding and poking by complete strangers, having foul tasting dewormer squirted in their mouths, injections and finally a dunking in cold water dip. And after all this there is still a waggling tail and a tongue-lolling smile – a lesson in humility second to none.

The Bikita project certainly has a profound effect on all who take part. It is a program that allows people from all levels of life to meet on a common ground – care for their domestic animals. This year, 2011, was certainly no exception, with everyone from mine management to rural farmers to mine labourers, getting involved. These kinds of things tend to bring out the best in human nature.  This year unfortunately Dr. Biko Gadaga could not partake in the program and he was sorely missed, however Dr. Blessing Mutangiri, a well-known Bikita resident did an absolutely marvelous job taking care of all the surgeries, assisted by Jo Howson who volunteered with us this year. Additionally this program could not have been as successful or smooth without the involvement of Simon Chikidaya (ZNSPCA) and Darlington Machingambi (Bikita Minerals) and the organization of Mr. Nigel McPhail and Mr. Mapeture of Bikita Minerals. Finally the additional sets of hands belonging to the Reyneke family, Susara, Chantelle and Ryan went a long way to making the program efficient and caring. A special mention must go to Chantelle for the exceptional nursing skill she displayed with some less than healthy puppies which needed to be de-flea’d.

On a personal note, for me the most nerve-wracking thought was the surgeries, as I do not have the greatest reputation for staying upright during them! However, even surprising myself, once I focused on the fact that these animals needed this assistance so desperately, I was able to take it all in and just help them. Even if it meant a stroke or a pat on the head, cleaning up a wound or simply saying “good dog” – the universal sense of well-being flowed between us all, man and beast.

Herewith follows a breakdown of the treatments performed;

The subject of euthanasia is never a nice one but I must comment here that the attitude of the animal owners of the Bikita district is definitely changing. I believe the people now have a better understanding of being ‘cruel to be kind’ and allowing us to put an animal to sleep so as to end suffering. Nothing displayed this more dramatically than our last euthanasia, which took place in a village in the hills belonging to the Masvimba family. The headman has an elderly dog whom he thought had a bone stuck in its throat. Well clearly the animal had been suffering for some time, emaciated doesn’t even begin to describe this poor animals condition. If you can imagine those picture of the starving skeletal children in Ethiopia, this was a canine equivalent. His eyes were dry, deeply sunken into the sockets and he could barely lift his head. Old callouses and scabbed wounded covered his back legs, his tail a bumpy series of bones. He was so dehydrated from not being able to even hold down water, it was obvious he had been in this worsening state for some days. The headman was adamant that with our white medicine we could fix him. It took a lot of discussion and even a ‘village meeting’ for him to accept the fact that we simply could do nothing further for the old dog. It was poignant moment when he looked at us and said “Do you know my dog loves me so much?” to which Jo Howson responded so fittingly, “He will love you even more if you end his suffering”.

He did not even struggle when lifted by foreign white hands and laid on his side on the makeshift table which was the open back of the vehicle. His dignity and acceptance of what was about to happen was so apparent, he lay his head down and allowed us to find the vein in his leg and administer the euthanasia drug. The last words he heard was a strange language saying “good dog, good dog” but he knew what it meant.

The Bikita domestic animal program has been one in which we continue to see the impact with each successive visit. By changing the lives of these domestic animals and their owners, we know that there is a further reaching ripple effect. You the readers and all who support the Tikki Hywood Trust are part of that effect too, and for this we thank you. We are constantly evaluating, and adjusting our approach and methods, so if anyone has any suggestions and or comments, we welcome the opportunity to discuss it with you.

Gratitude to the sponsors;
A special thankyou to the Bridget Bardot Foundation who is the biggest sponsor of the Bikita project. Furthermore, National Foods generously put together parcels of dog food that were appreciated by both pet and owner alike. Bikita Minerals and staff for their hospitality and use of their premises and finally a thankyou to the people of Bikita who welcomed us and worked with us.

Fire. One of the four main elements of myth, mystery and history, as well as the subject of both worship and fear throughout human evolution. The manipulation of fire separated us intellectually from our fellow creatures and gave us the ‘power tool’ to explore and expand our repertoire of capabilities. Of the four; earth, wind and air, fire was the easiest to recreate and to control. There are many folklores and tales as to how mankind first learned about fire and if one is to delve deeper in the science of fossil record, it states that the first wild fire occurred approximately 420 million years ago, as the levels of atmospheric oxygen rose thanks to the increase of combustible vegetation. However, even after all these millions of years, fire still retains that wild and uncontrollable quality as it still manages to ravage the earth’s surface unchecked.

As winter arrives on our doorstep in Zimbabwe, even in this relatively warm climate, fire is still essential to our culture. Traditional images of snuggling up in front of a warm fire come to mind and the distinctive acrid taste of smoke hangs in the air in both rural and urban environments.  However over the past decade a new and very tragic image has begun to be a familiar sight; char burnt veld wherever one looks. During this time of year my heart drops to the very pit of my stomach, when I look up into the sky and see billowing fire clouds!  Birds circle on hot thermals, scavenging for any misfortunate creature fleeing the flames. After the fire rips through an area all that is left is kilometres and kilometres of blackened, smoking, sterile landscape. Through our socio-economic upheaval of land re-distribution, uncontrolled wildfires have been one of the most destructive consequences.  Reports show that 11 million hectares of land were burnt in 2004, and last year a reportly 11 504 947 hectares were again burnt!  As a percentage of Zimbabwe’s total land area, this equates to 29% of the total. We have lost nearly a third of our biomass to fire this year.

The ramifications of the damage and costs relating to bush fires are in the billions.  With unmanaged burning the following can be expected, a reduction in biodiversity, destruction of flora and fauna, reduction of soil fertility, increased erosion and soil compaction that increases surface run-off, thereby decreasing infiltration. All this reduces water needed to recharge ground water sources.

The lack of social consequence is a primary result of uncontrolled wildfires. For example; poachers start fires in order to flush their targets from the safety of the vegetation. In resettled and communal areas, people smoke out bees using grass torches to get to the honey, but are not always careful to properly put out the fires. At bus terminuses, passengers start little fires to warm themselves whilst waiting, but often board buses without dousing them. Veld fires can also be ignited by burning cigarette stubs carelessly thrown out of moving vehicles by drivers or passengers.  During the winter months many resettled farmers use burning as a method to clear their fields but often do not stop the fires as they move further out of their boundaries.

Only in extreme cases are veld fires induced by natural factors like lightning.

In a country like Zimbabwe, where we have a high percentage of combustible biomass it seemed sensible to have a legislation that relates to the use and control of fire. Hence the Forest Act was first written in 1949 which forbids people from burning, growing or standing vegetation on any land without prior notice to the occupants of all adjourning land and the police.

The Act further stipulates that in the event that one is found guilty in a court of law of setting a fire outside of the criteria as stipulated, they should be liable for either a fine or imprisonment or both.

However, ignorance of these regulations by both civilian and official alike has resulted in a regressive attitude towards proper fire management, and there is now a need to re-educate the general populace on the proper use of one our most fundamental tools. With the survival and fate of many wild animals under threat from wild fires, we as the Tikki Hywood Trust are proud to have been involved in the fire awareness campaign initiated by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

In 2010, with the help of like-minded organisations the Tikki Hywood Trust was also asked by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authorities to assist with the firebreaks for the Hwange National Park.  Our largest and premier collection of naturally occurring wildlife, home to specially protected species and endangered alike, the Park is home to 105 mammal species, including 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores. The population of African wild dogs to be found in Hwange is thought to be of one of the largest surviving groups in Africa today.

With all these creatures relying on the environment which they call home, it is vital that we protect the vegetation from unnatural fire devastation.  The winter months are the hardest of all for wildlife and without the required vegetation all animals in the food chain eventually face starvation. In 2010, we co-ordinated and assisted several groups and organisations in achieving the first comprehensive boundary firebreak for the park in decades. We are very proud to be involved in this operation again this year and hopefully will extend the protection against fires further than what we were able to last year.

Results so far are depicted in the map below;

People involved in making this possible

African Bush Camps – Beks Ndlovu

Friends of Hwange

Gary Cantle & Peter Banks – with out whom we would not have managed to cover so much ground in such a short time frame

Martin Peters Safaris – Martin Peters

National Parks Head Office and Hwange National Park staff

Save Australia

The Hide

Tikki Hywood Trust

WEZ Matebeleland Branch

Wilderness Safaris

How many readers have had the truly spiritual experience of being in the presence of a Cape Pangolin? For myself, there is never an occasion that prepares me for receiving a pangolin as each animal touches my very soul. These animals truly are the most remarkable and mystical animals, which deserve the utmost respect and honour that our Shona culture has bestowed upon them. However, the air of mystery surrounding these creatures has also contributed to the decline in their numbers, as when they are found in the wild, they are picked up and presented to the Chief or more often, the President. From this point on, it normally spells doom for the pangolin, since they do not eat or drink once captive. This is because they are highly specialized feeders, having what we refer to as a tube mouth with no articulating jaws. They lick up ants and termites with a very long sticky tongue and drink water in the same manner. Pangolin are taken from all over the country, they endure tortuous journeys bound up in sacks or other suffocating and confining containers, to be brought to the Capital, starving, terrified and dehydrated. As a nation, I think we need to address our expression of respect to this species.

The logo of the Tikki Hywood Trust is the pangolin, for us symbolic of our admiration of this animal. We are also recognised, as the authority on captive care, management and release of cape pangolin and due to this reputation we have working arrangement with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. What this means is that any pangolin presented to any member of the government is accepted and then handed to the Trust for safekeeping and or release.

This is an account of exactly this type of situation which took place recently;

On 1stJuly personnel from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, called us to confirm that we would take a pangolin who had been removed from the wild and which the C.I.D. department of Border Control Mines and Minerals personnel were about to confiscate. We of course accepted this request. The story unfolds that the Parks investigations unit had been alerted to a pangolin that had been brought into Harare, with the intention of the poachers to sell the animal. Yes, we have labeled them poachers because they have illegally removed this animal from its natural habitat.

In a true movie style operation, a trap was laid for the pangolin poachers, who had pegged the price of this invaluable animal at a mere USD $ 7000.00! Once arrested, the two suspects were taken into custody on 1st July and were held until the hearing the following Monday where they were released on bail. We were advised to come and collect the pangolin when the suspects had been arrested and we then made the fretful journey to Central Vehicle Registry (also the Offices for the C.I.D. Department) in the centre of Harare not knowing what to expect. Afternoon traffic on a Friday in the centre of Harare is not to be trifled with and add this to the fact that an ocean of people gathered all wanting to catch a glimpse of this rare sight. The pangolin had been taken from the Chimanimani area of Zimbabwe and brought to Harare in a sack in a boot of a car. Upon seeing him for the first time we discovered that he was a large mature animal, but was terrified and rolled up in a very tight ball. During the phone call from the Investigating Officer to advise us to come and collect the pangolin, he stated that they had no idea how to take the animal out of the boot and then what to do with it. With the flashes of phone cameras and a pressing and craning of necks to see the rare species we managed to transfer him to a more comfortable crate with a deep bed of hay in the back of the Trust vehicle. Once we had the pangolin safely in our care, I went to fill out a statement with the investigating officer. The case had been set for court for the following Monday 8.15 am, and since it was Friday, this meant that this pangolin was to be in our care for the weekend.

If anyone has ever had anything to do with a pangolin, they will know that there is nothing more difficult in the world than to feed a pangolin, let alone, a pangolin who has been terrified, kept in a chicken coop for four days and undergone immense stress. On the first night we walked for two hours hoping that he might at least eat something, but all he did was walk. The sights and smells must have been so completely foreign to him from his highland home, much less the two-legged ‘torturers’ that appeared to be following his every move. On getting him home he went into the Tikki Hywood Trust nursery room, which we deemed to be the most secure place to hold him and also where we could create heat and warmth with an oil heater and bean bags. When under stress, pangolin find it very difficult to regulate their temperature, so we have to do this artificially. After investigating every corner of the room, he found a place that felt safe and curled up. We swathed him in a thick blanket and a hot bean bag at his side. For the first time in a number of days, I believe he had a restful and deep sleep. Over the course of the weekend he was walked between three and four hours in the evening, in the hopes of stimulating his natural foraging behaviour. On each occasion his trust towards us had improved, but still he did not eat any food. We placed him directly on ant nests and termite mounds but he showed absolutely no interest. This being my biggest concern, as he had now not eaten for a minimum of 7 days if not longer, I spoke to the police over the weekend saying that we had to petition the animal’s release as soon as possible. What I was not aware of but soon became clear, was that the pangolin itself was booked as evidence and therefore had to be presented in court in order for the prosecution to have a solid case. So early Monday we headed to the police station once again with the pangolin in a crate, wrapped up in his blanket to see if we authorize his release before night fall. Thankfully, due to full co-operation from the CID Mines and Minerals, as well as the courts and the Magistrate, we were able to get through the legal proceedings and the pangolin on his way to being released by midday. For purposes of the animal’s safety, we respectfully decline to mention where he was released.

For those of you reading, like ourselves, you may be confused and angered by the fact that the animal had to be physically used as evidence, being carted from one foreign environment to another, but this is an indication of a system that was devised with unfamiliarity of the welfare and survival of live exhibits. Now that we have experienced this situation we can work towards improving the legislation and the court procedure to benefit the animals in question.

In the meantime, we offered to assist both the Police and the Parks Authority in preparing the docket, as we also needed to understand the legal implications of this case. All too often this is where the momentum is lost as our Public Prosecutors are not well versed in the wildlife laws of the country. All departments involved at this point where incredibly enthusiastic and grateful for the assistance and on the Sunday before the first hearing we frantically put together the following legal citations;

The Primary charge is Part IX Section 45 of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Control of Hunting of Specially Protected animals and Procession and sale of Specially Protected Animals.

Under this section the crimes involved would be, illegal procession of Specially Protected Animal, holding an animal without a licence and or permit, noting that we are dealing in particular with a Specially Protected Endangered species such as a pangolin.

Section 59 of Part XII of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Control of Hunting Removal of Live animals and animal Products,

Specifically point (2) (b) where it states remove any animal or any part of any animal from any land or from one place to another on any land, further to this point

( 3) subject to this act no person shall sell any live animal or the trophy of any animal except in terms of a permit issued in terms of section 75 of the Parks and Wildlife Act [20:14].

(5) any person who contravenes sub-section (2) or (3) shall be guilty of an offense.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Section 3 Offences

(1) Any person who -

Sub-section (e), wantonly or unreasonably does or causes or procures the commission of any act likely to infuriate or terrify any animal;

or Sub-section (g) cruelly or unnecessarily ties up or confines any animal or causes or permits any animal so to be tied up or confined;

or Sub-section (h) conveys or carries or causes or procures or, being the owner, permits to be conveyed or carried, any animal in such a manner or position as to cause the animal unnecessary suffering;

Shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(The justification for citing this Act is due to the fact that the pangolin, once captured, was being kept in a chicken coop, where the animal contracted parasitic mites which it would not have been subjected to under wild circumstances. In short, the cage was entirely inappropriate.)

Photo above of scale damage due to being in captivity

Trapping of Animals (CONTROL) Act, Part VIII – General Section 22 Control of sale, etc.,of animals trapped Sub-section

(1) Notwithstanding the trapping, in terms of this Act or in terms of a permit or licence granted in terms of this Act, of any animal as defined in section 2 of the Parks and Wildlife Act [Chapter 20:14], the sale or disposal of such animal or the whole or any part of the carcass thereof shall be subject to the Parks and Wildlife Act [Chapter 20:14]. Sub-section

(2) No person shall sell or dispose of any animal or the whole or any part of the carcass thereof which he has trapped in convention of any of the provisions of this Act.

Sub-section (3) Any person who contravenes sub-section (2) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such a fine and such imprisonment.

In addition to the above legal citing, we would also obviously prosecute on the basis of the standard trapping and hunting fines per species.

After the deliberations prior the court appearance on Monday, it was decided that the following two counts would represent the thrust of the Prosecutor’s case;

The Primary charge is Part IX Section 45 of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Control of Hunting of Specially Protected animals and Procession and sale of Specially Protected Animals.

Under this section the crimes involved would be, illegal procession of Specially Protected Animal, holding an animal without a licence and or permit, noting that we are dealing in particular with a Specially Protected Endangered species such as a pangolin.

Section 59 of Part XII of the Parks and Wildlife Act,Control of Hunting Removal of Live animals and animal Products, Specifically point (2) (b) where it states remove any animal or any part of any animal from any land or from one place to another on any land, further to this point

( 3) subject to this act no person shall sell any live animal or the trophy of any animal except in terms of a permit issued in terms of section 75 of the Parks and Wildlife Act [20:14].

(5) any person who contravenes sub-section (2) or (3) shall be guilty of an offense. According to the legal deliberations we could not charge separately for the Cruelty Act, section 59 of the Parks and Wildlife Act as above encompassed the action of cruelty against the animal.

At the hearing on Monday 4th July the two suspects were released on USD $100.00 bail and told to return the following day, Tuesday 5th July to hear what the Magistrates decision whether to charge on only one count of illegal removal or to charge for the count of cruelty as well. Of course my initial reaction was panic as I did not think that the two suspects would return once they got out on bail! The next 12 hours were rather difficult to say the least and when I got that phone call saying that both suspects had appeared in court that morning and that the Magistrate was prepared to hear the case on both accounts section 45 and section 59 – I was relieved and exhilarated! The date of the trial has been set for 25th July 2011.

We at the Tikki Hywood Trust and most certainly all the Government Departments that we have worked with on this issue feel that this is indeed a victory, even though the trial has not yet taken place. It is definitely the first step towards bringing the justice system into line with more severe recognition of crimes against wildlife and could ont have been achieved without the co-operation and dedication to all involved – we salute you.

Neil Armstrong, may have taken that first step on the moon and thereby a giant leap for mankind, but this event and subsequent result, is equivalent of a lunar leap for all wildlife prosecution in Zimbabwe and in particular the pangolin! The following newspaper articles have been published with regards to this case, please take a moment to read them.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201107050708.html

http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2011-07-05-pangolin-lands-mutsvangwa-in-trouble

Thursday 12^th May, a little tiny bundle arrived!  Mozi the first suni which the Tikki Hywood Trust had received was brought to us from Christy Jira. During a trip to Mozambique, they had seen this furry bundle being carried upside down on the side of the road with his legs tied up.  This sight is not uncommon in Mozambique!  Mozi was an amazing little antelope who fought through all the odds until late Saturday 14^th May when he passed away in my arms.

Nothing prepares you when you lose an animal.  Even in those few days Mozi’s character started shining through, during the ups and downs. He was one of the few antelopes in my experience, that was eager to groom a fellow being, and seemed to especially relish the salty taste of human skin. Trying to save an orphan who has endured a snare, unknown abuse and more than likely starvation is certainly not easy as one feels quite helpless when they are in pain and you don’t know what more to do.  What man does to his fellow planet dwellers is just criminal.

A little more about Suni Antelope;

Considered to be one of the smallest antelope in Africa, Suni only stand between 35 – 40cm at the shoulder and weighing a mere 5kg. They depend heavily on dense habitat for protection and are therefore under serious threat through habitat loss and encroachment by human development.  Killing by domestic or feral dogs is also huge problem, as well as poaching by snare as they use forest trails.

Please may we appeal to all those of you who may be travelling to and from Mozambique (or anywhere in Zimbabwe for that matter) that if you save any wildlife from the side of the roads, contact us quickly so that together we can help with the survival of these precious creatures .

It was a wet and misty morning on 13th March when we arrived at the property of Neil Deacon in Darwindale. After a few last minute alterations to their new quarters, we allowed the three musketeers out to inspect. Their reaction was as positive as we could hope for, they were only slightly nervous to start but very quickly their natural inquisitive nature got the better of them. It was very smooth and ‘text book’ as they say. With the daily feeding and monitoring being done by Neil, we were satisfied that these three lucky orphans were in the best care. A routine was quickly established with Hugo, the leader of the pack enjoying Neil’s company as close as Neil would allow. We believe they were visited by a wild genet on site, which was even more encouraging for the whole release. However, 45 days later, on the 25th April 2011 our three intrepid genets showed us that they were in fact more than ready to be released and found a hole in the enclosure letting themselves out! The erstwhile self-release was discovered by Neil on his feeding expedition that even. Instead of three sets of eyes peering out of the enclosure, they were peering out of a tree nearby!
Sometime the most unplanned release is the best one!

We are very happy to report that the three are doing well and have definitely made themselves at home.
Not a release but another kind of move was the change of the two serval males, Bilbo and Gandalf from their old enclosure to a new one on Bushman Rock Estates in Ruwa. The reason for the change of location was that a new enclosure had been built for the boys next to the lodges, which incorporate a beautiful little stream and a msasa woodland. We could not have asked for more a stimulating environment for them. On the day, the question was in our minds as to what exactly the process would be to get the serval boys into a crate and moved. The answer was the most unexpected thing you could think of; boiled eggs! Rick Passaportis has been patiently making friends with these two magnificent cats and his method did involve a little bribery……. Tit bits and treats every now and then kept the felids sweet and associating Rick with a very pleasant experience. So, on the misty morning, cool as cucumber Rick beckoned the salivating cats with the well-known rattle of a plastic dish and sulphurous wafting’s of freshly boiled eggs. Gandalf, the more retiring of the two was the first to venture straight into the crate and claim his prize. The door was neatly slid into place before he could realise and after a short drive he was deposited in the new enclosure. A few squirts of frontline later and he was released into the new wonderland. We were all wondering at this point whether Bilbo would be quite as co-operative, since is normally the case that the next animal to be caught is more wary. Our musings were soon proved unfounded, when Bilbo followed the eggy treat as quickly as his brother had. Unfortunately his rear haunches were still protruding and we could not slide the door shut as smoothly. This was soon remedied by a rather large size 11 croc-covered foot belonging to Rick, and with a gentle shove Bilbo was in position to join his brother. The brief separation proved to be of no consequence and they united in mutual exploration and urinating on everything they could possibly find!

Ever in search of improving our techniques and methods with all the species we work with, we often find ourselves taking leaps and bounds when we come across ‘new ways’ to do things. So it has been with the breeding program for the Southern African Hedgehogs. After the very successful release in January of this year, we decided to create a permanent outside enclosure for the breeding stock at the Trust. We moved the first four into the new enclosure on 17th April and selection for the new area was based on body size! Yes, the fattest of our lady hogs were put into the new area in order to get them slim and trim for the coming breeding season. They performed so well that the following weekend all 16 hogs were placed in the new enclosure, a more natural environment, and it has also given us the opportunity to renovate the main breeding house. We shall keep you posted!

As always, we appreciate feedback from our readers. Especially now when we delve into the super info highway with our new newsletter format, we need to know how it looks from your point of view. So please, when you have moment give us your thoughts.

If ever we have to stand together it most certainly has to be for this year 2011.  Only too frequently have I heard that life is a journey – enjoy the ride!  Right now this roller coaster ride which Zimbabwe finds herself on, I fear does not have much enjoyment attached to it.  But what Zimbabwe most certainly does not lack are those unsung heroes. A hero, I believe, is someone who feels that they can no longer stand by and watch, but rather have been moved enough to stand up and make a change to what they truly believe is wrong.  I have spent the most amazing moments in the wild savannahs of Zimbabwe’s bush, being completely and utterly spoilt by her beauty and diversity of wildlife.  With all the rains our veldt is rich with the variety of grasses, which allow every type of herbivore to gladly reach their fill.  Elephants have the luxury of choice of only eating the tops of the grasses and leaving the ends.  Sitting silently with my eyes closed being able to smell the veldt on the wind, I am able to dream of days long gone.  But when I open my eyes reality arrives with a bang and my heart and lungs start to tighten as I realise that both our environment and wildlife are not safe and are constantly under threat.  Each day that we wake, we are not certain of what policy or change or action needs to be taken.

There are a lot of remarkable people whom I have had the opportunity of meeting and working with, who will stop at nothing to allow this land we call home to be a land which is safe for our wildlife.  For every one of these ‘hero’s’ there have been multiple sacrifices made to allow them to follow their path of dedication.  When I was growing up, I always thought that a passion must be the most wonderful gift to have, yet as I have lived with my own passion I have realised that that passion does come at a price for those around us and to our own lives.  It becomes something that consumes us and does not enable us to see outside of that world – each day just like taking your first breath your mind turns over and over in the hopes of being able to find another solution to what we face.

Throughout the world and over many centuries, the politics of land has been a turbulent topic.  There is nothing more powerful than land and nothing more destructive than that greed for that land.  Zimbabwe is living her history today and her future is looking very uncertain. I await the day when I can draw back the curtains and watch the sun shining through, without dread in my heart for all those animals which we just can not save, for the ones trapped in wire snares, or bleeding to death from being wounded.

RHINO RESCUE

Earlier this year the Trust was involved with the relocation of two rhinos from the Chiredzi River Conservancy where they were under tremendous threat.  Two of the four remaining rhino were poached and their horns taken, in January of this year.  Nothing prepares you, when you see the merciless killing of a beast which is not only 100% innocent, but has been a part of our planet for centuries. Who gives anyone the right to take a life?  Stupid question in this day and age that we currently living in.  GREED! The one major force which drives this madness.  I walked through the bush with the smell of death filling the air all around me.  The black flies darken the branches, the grasses as well as the carcasses.  All that could be heard was the buzzing from the flies.  There lying before me lay these two bodies – only a few weeks ago they were walking, eating and alive.  Today in front of me, they were lying murdered and stripped of all dignity.  These two rhinos did not deserve to die like this!  This land where the murders had taken place, was the land where I had grown up and spent many holidays as a child.  On this very land I began my love affair with nature and her splendid magnificence.  It was her beauty that would in the future get me through many a sad moment.  She had been my saviour time and time again.   Running innocently through this veldt, laughing and playing without the knowledge that in a few decades of my own life I would be standing in that same veldt watching the animals being poached, murdered – for me I don’t understand the difference between the two.  How do I repay this land who gave so much to me, when the fight that we are fighting is so enormous?  Do we get a second chance?  When all the animals have been taken and the trees cut and the grasses burnt?  What will be left for us to marvel at?  Over these past months I have wondered time and time again, how do we, keep going?  The answer is now so clear, we have no choice but to keep going, to keep fighting.

On the 10^th February 2011 two female rhinos were darted and translocated to safety.  This effort was a massive undertaking involving many people who share a similar love or passion for this land we call Zimbabwe.  Each one of us had a task to under take.  On the day everything came together perfectly and in a matter of a few hours, the girls had been located from the air, darted, loaded into crates and moved.  This all sounds so simple – it is not I can assure you, however the professional people involved made it all work like clock work.  I sincerely thank all those involved for not only having the dedication which they all have had over this past decade but for never giving up with this fight.  Due to the sensitivity of rhino issue currently, I will not mention the people and or organisations who were involved in this move.

Even though things do not smell like roses here in Zimbabwe I feel that we have to remain positive and look at the areas in our lives that we are able to make a contribution to.  As you know the Trust made a decision to implant our animals (apart from the hedgehogs) in order to stop breeding for the time being.  We reached that time of year again and our two male Bat-eared foxes were implanted as after the reaction Hooch (female African Wild Cat) had towards the implant (please see September 2010 newsletter) I was concerned to re-implant Sahara our female Bat-eared fox.  Like with many of these things in smaller carnivores in captivity – not a lot of research has been done as to the long term side-effects.  We have decided not to implant any of the female African wild cats as well as Francis our female Civet, due to this area of uncertainty. Though we are not breeding now, it is hoped that in the future we will be able to resume breeding these endangered species to repopulate protected and safe areas of Zimbabwe.

VUMBA WEPU

There has been such an amazing response with regards to this project.  Even though hiccups have occurred along the way we have managed to overcome them and the project continues to go from strength to strength.  Herewith follows a brief table of results to date:

NOV / DEC 2010

Day patrols : 20 days (not incl. training from 1st Nov to 19th Nov where daily patrols occurred)

Night patrols : 4 nights

Ambushes :  1 – wood poaching truck taking wood out of the Bunga Forest. The vehicle was detained.

Snares collected : 412

Other traps and nets : 27

Animal carcasses found : 1

Arrests and fines : 8 Poachers arrested

January 2011

Day patrols : 16 days

Night patrols : 2 nights

Ambushes :  nil

Snares collected : 145

Other traps and nets : 8

Animal carcasses found : 3

Arrests and fines : nil

February 2011

Day patrols : 20 days

Night patrols : none

Ambushes :  nil

Snares collected : 16

Other traps and nets : 2

Animal carcasses found : 1 (old)

Arrests and fines : nil

One of the biggest breakthroughs with regards to the Vumba I feel has to be moving the squatters out of the Bunga Forest.  In the middle of 2010, several groups of people moved into the Bunga Forest and started settling there.  With this move there was not only deforestation, poaching of the wildlife but also soiling of the river system that runs through the forest.  So all and all, this was something that could not be allowed to continue. Furthermore, the Bunga Forest has never previously been inhabited and has been part of the Parks Estate for as long as Zimbabwe has been independent, so it should never have happened. Our gratitude goes to both, Revayi Mudzingwa, Warden of Vumba National Parks and Lawrence Nyagwande of Environment Africa Mutare, for the ground work which was required to move these people and their tenacity to make sure the squatters were removed.  They had to get support from the Lands council right up to the Presidents Office.  The approval was given and thanks to the support through National Parks Head Office in Harare, as well National Parks Vumba together with the WEPU scouts we were able to remove the squatters.  This is a tremendous break through as you can well imagine for the Vumba.  Hopefully it will act as a deterrent to any other potential squatters.  Our scouts are out on daily trips as well as extended patrols and as you can see from the records, their presence is having an impact in the Vumba.

Bramble and Blue Bell introduced Hawthorne their first calf born and the Trust’s first steenbok born in captivity.  To date Hawthorne has continued to grow in strength and size.  Blue Bell has been an amazing first time mother which has been a huge relief.  As we had never had a steenbok born in captivity we separated Bramble (male) from Blue Bell and we believe that this has been a positive step.  Bramble and Blue are in enclosures neighbouring one another so that they have the company and do not loose contact.  Once Hawthorne is a little older we will re introduce the two adults.

Releases seem to be something of a past memory seeing as we have a new policy of not breeding.  However 2011 has seen a couple of releases already for the Trust.

HEDGEHOGS

The first release of its kind we believe in Zimbabwe, where both wild rescued and captive bred Southern African Hedgehogs are released in a communal manner. There have been many discussions with our partners in this project, Stuart & Michelle Johnson of Esigodini, as to the actual process and more importantly, post release monitoring of this release. We have not as yet perfected a tracking device for our hedgehogs, as they are considerably smaller than their European counterparts but we have stumbled upon a relatively simple and effective means of marking the animals with no invasion what so ever…… bright nail polish!

A release enclosure was established on Claremont Farm in Esigodini. On the 25^th January the male hedgehogs were treated for parasites (Frontline) and placed in the release enclosure. Over the following four days food placed outside the enclosure to encourage them out.  By the 7^th February three of the four male hogs were being sighted on a regular basis. This was sufficient enough for the movement and release of the females from the same enclosure. A similar protocol was followed for the girls and we are very happy to report that they are being seen regularly and appear to be doing well. We are greatly encouraged by the fact that many of the released females have in fact gained weight!

IMPALA

Willow our orphaned impala has gone to a small holding where he will be the beginning of a new nucleus with two female impalas. On 23^rd February 2011 Willow was introduced to not only the land that was to become his new home, but also the two females.  It was fairly obvious that Willow would have to adjust to knowing that he was in fact an impala!  The two females I believe will help him adjust incredibly well.  The Trust would like to thank both Andy and Tina Lowe for their support as well as offering all three impala’s a new beginning.

GENET

Our three genet orphans, Hugo, Boss and Femme have also started there first phase back to the wild.  On Saturday 12 March, the three genet travelled, to their new home in Mount Hampden.  Here with the help of Neil and Nikki Deacon, all three genets will start the process of being rehabilitated back to the wild.  They are in an enclosure which is where they will stay over the next month or so, adapting to their new environment.  During this time they will be fed as well as being exposed to the wildlife in the area and well as the sounds.  It has been four days since they were moved and we are delighted to report that all three including Femme are adapting well, their appetite as also not been affected which is a great relief.

I know that there are so many of us who have this feeling of helplessness with what we are up against.  But I also know that we are very privileged to have the support of one another. It is through this strength that I know one of these days we will be able to draw back the curtains and celebrate in this land we call home.  The uncertainly will be gone and the knowledge that we have done all that we could have done will be real.  What was wrong has been righted.  “the beating of our hearts will echo the beating of the drums”, we will be able to rejoice in new beginnings.

It never ceases to amaze me of the strength and resilience of wildlife.  Over this past decade, the animals in Zimbabwe have been under tremendous pressure from man.  The three zebra in the Vumba have been no exception.  Even though the zebra sightings have become a regular part of the trips to the Vumba, we were notified about a month ago by Revayi Mudzingwa, Warden of Vumba National Parks, that two of the three zebra had been herded by a few unknown persons in the Vumba to an unknown location.  Alarm bells started ringing, as they were an easy target for poaching and Parks asked us if we would relocate the zebra to Osborne Dam, which is a National Park just outside of Mutare.

Thankfully, due to Mr Tim Paulet and his company Wildlife Management Services International, we were in a position to move the zebra on behalf of Vumba National Parks.  On Friday 7 January 2011, we set off in search of the stallion.  What we were not at all prepared for was the MIST!  Visibility was certainly no more than 5 or 6 meters in a straight line.  The WEPU and National Parks scouts had gone out early in the morning to locate the stallion.  When we arrived at the said location (thank goodness for cell phones) we had to whistle in order to identify where exactly everyone was as there was no visibility.  Mist was everywhere!  We located the stallion; Tim drew the dart ready for him and then sighted his gun.  Everything was in place.  Tim had the stallion in his sights aimed and fired – impact was heard – the dart hit the stallion squarely on his rump.  He stood for a while and then without warning ran down the mountain moving further and further away from us who were following on foot.  Concerned not to chase him and push him further, it was difficult to follow without losing sight of him.  The mist seemed to be moving closer and closer towards us, and then before we knew it we no longer had sight of the stallion.  He had been swallowed up by the mist.  Time is an interesting factor when capturing game.  There are those days when you seem to find yourself just sitting and waiting and waiting and then there are days like the one we were having – time vanished.  We searched the surrounding area following the fresh spoor of the stallion realising two and a half hours later that if we were going to move the other two zebras today – we had to go to where they were being kept.  We divided the WEPU scouts in half so that half of the unit could remain under the supervision of Wadzi ……, whilst the other half came with us to help with the remaining two zebra.

Moving wildlife is not an easy task and with every capture there is always something new to be learnt.  This capture was no exception.  The mother and foal duo had been herded the week before by our WEPU scouts, under the supervision of National Parks, to Fernview Valley Police Station for safe keeping until we were able to get to the Vumba and move them.  We would like to thank the Police Station and their staff for taking care of the zebra whilst they were waiting collection.  What we had not quiet anticipated was the road, or rather, lack of road to get to where the zebra were based.  We took the 8 ton truck as far down the road as we could possibly do so, and then it was decided that the rest of the way we would go in the 4 x 4 open back pickup, returning with the two zebra on the back being held by simply manpower!  It all made for interesting thoughts on the way there.  We arrived to see both mother and foal looking calm which was fantastic.  Tim could get very close to both zebras.  Once assessing the weight of the zebra, Tim calculated the drugs which would be required to knock them both down so that we could move them.  The dart gun was sighted and then it was action.

First dart hit its target – the mother zebra.  In no less than 7 minutes the mother started to feel the affects of the drugs.  She dropped down and was unconscious in no time at all.  Straight away her eyes were covered and we moved the vehicle into position to lift her up on to the back.  This is certainly no mean feat, to lift an adult zebra onto the back of a high rise pickup.  Holding onto her head and making sure that the blind fold did not come off her face I have to say I wondered how on earth this would all work out.  Not only did we have to get the zebra onto the back of the vehicle, but she had to remain there!!!  Due to a very supportive group of on lookers as well as the WEPU scouts, the task was completed and as soon as the mother zebra was loaded we moved into position to pick up the her foal.  After the mother, the foal was as light as a feather!  With both zebra loaded we headed back to the truck with a crate, in which they would continue on to Osborne Dam in.

Just before we embarked on the next leg of this journey, Revayi received a call, letting us know that the stallion had been found and was fully recovered from the dart, eating grass not too far from when he had been darted.  What a relief!!!

Remembering that the road was very eroded as well as bumpy, we felt every single bump as did the zebra.  It was no more than 200 meters when the zebra start to get up onto all fours.  Immediately Tim stopped the pickup and administered more sedative, to make sure they remained unconscious for the remainder of this trip.  After a couple of minutes the drug took affect and we were able to proceed with caution.  Once at the truck the zebra were reloaded into the truck. Once inside a secure crate, the reversal drug was given.  In a few minutes both zebra were up on their feet and adjusting to the sound of the truck.  The trip in the truck to Osborne Dam was about a 30 minute drive, obviously going very slowly.  Once at Osborne Dam the zebra were herded into a boma so we could monitor them for a few days before being released into the main area of Osborne Dam where there are other zebras and wildlife.

This mission would not have been possible without the dedication of Mr Tim Paulet who has been involved with wildlife capture since the early 60’s.  Tim has donated his time and vehicles which included an 8 ton truck with specialised crates attached as well as his own 4 x 4 vehicle – affectionately known as “Rusty” to this operation.  A huge thank you goes to Revayi Mudzingwa  and her National Parks Team as well as to our very own WEPU scouts all of whom where instrumental in putting this operation together and making sure that all animals involved were given the utmost of care.  As soon as the rains have subsided a little we will be returning to collected the stallion and take him to join the other zebras at Osborne Dam.