Zimbabwe Seven

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.

Spring has Sprung!

I remember when, I was a child, of being so excited for the bright bursts of ‘spring’ colour, from all avenues, leaves on the trees, buds bursting open and the petals of the Jacaranda spilling onto the roads and gardens, leaving, underneath them, purple carpets, which popped when you drove over them. Thinking back, I can see how wonderful it was being so naïve and living in a then, wonderland, which I called home.

Now when spring is around the corner, my heart is full of fear for the veldt fires which are destined to fill our night horizon. Burning seems to be a way of life in Zimbabwe around this time. Be it due to poverty and many people trying to catch rats to eat, or for clearing of land in preparation for the rains, or simply for revenge. Whatever it may be, Zimbabwe is turned into smoke and flames for the best part of August and September. I once believed, that education was the way forward with so many of the wrongs in this country, but sadly due to ever increasing poverty levels, I am afraid that even with knowledge there are certain issues we can not change, fire burning being one of those realities, no matter how hard we seem to try change it.

“Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of love and hope”.

- Tom Head (Author)

Each step that the Trust’s takes, is such a learning curve. I am thankful that with each one of these steps, I am able to embark on a journey of self realisation. As you all know my patience levels are tested constantly, and for me this has been one of my greatest challenges, living and dealing with conservation issues here in Zimbabwe. No one else’s clock seems to tick quite the same as mine, and there are many occasions when I find myself having to take very deep breath and count to a 100, long gone are the days of only counting to 10! In June of this year, the Trust was contacted by our National Parks to take care of a situation. A collection of animals, referred to as Noah’s Ark, had been captured in one of our premier Parks, and through, I pray, a greater conscience, our Director General decided to rescind this decision, and release these animals instead of sending them to a zoo overseas. We automatically reacted to this change of heart and in less than five days, we were bound for Hwange, to release Zimbabwe’s much talked about Noah’s Ark. You have all received the newsletter which outlines the release of these said animals, so I will not go into that. However, I would like to explain that as a result of this, move many doors have opened, and a few new directions have presented themselves to the Trust. After arriving in the Vumba, to release the captured Samango Monkeys, the Trust spoke with many of the stakeholders on the ground and the realisation of tremendous poaching and deforestation became a reality to us. With these facts racing through my mind, I returned to Harare with a multitude of ideas of how we might be able to assist. The long and short of it was that without trained manpower on the ground, to form a buffer against the main assault of poaching animals, we really are wasting our time. In light of this, I met with Martin Steimer, who runs an anti-poaching unit called Animal Lifeline in the Hwange area, to ask him to help with training. I have also been in contact with Charlie Hewat of Environment Africa with regards to a project in the Vumba. Together, we have got approval from ZPWMA to do the first anti-poaching training program in the Vumba, starting on the 1^st November 2010. We, will be developing the Wildlife and Environment Protection Unit (WEPU), and this unit will operate throughout the Bunga Forest Area and the Botanical Gardens, and will be a reaction unit for the stakeholders who remain on land in the Vumba area, to protect against poaching and deforestation.

As I walked through the forests of the Vumba and saw these beautiful trees that had been growing, providing shelter and food for many different species below them for decades now lying, dying on the earth’s floor, my heart silently cried. The devastation throughout Zimbabwe is huge, vast, no, mammoth! Can we, actually make a difference, can we prevent further destruction – those of us who really care about the future of this land? Right now, there are questions which I have and which I want so badly answered. But who is there to answer them? The definition of chaos is “a state of complete disorder and confusion” this is where I feel Zimbabwe, stands right now. In amongst this are those of us who so badly want to see the light shining on the horizon, but for now our horizon is charred black and it will take time for that green bite to emerge. My dream is, that just as year after year the green bite continues to grow, so too in time will our future horizons, here in Zimbabwe. Because this land is our home we love her and we are here for her and so for now all we can do is crisis manage, one step at a time, one animal at a time and one tree at a time. So the answer of course is YES, we can do something to help restore our homeland. Hand and hand and through unity and determination we will find that horizon.

Orphans have become a way of life for the Trust, over the last six months the following animals have entered our lives and become part of our ever growing family;

Galadriel – a female serval arrived in a cardboard box, hissing as soon as you looked into the box. Her front right leg had been caught in a snare and was very swollen. Thankfully however we were able to save the leg and to day she is a beautiful, if somewhat aggressive serval. Being so young, she still has a good, eight or so months, before we have to decide what her future will be. Currently, I fear that there are no safe environments out there that will welcome an animal like Galadriel, without any threat of being poached either by dogs or wire snares!

Officially known as Madagascar, but rather affectionately called Mugsy – a young male, African Wild cat came into the Trust, from the Chirundu area in June. Mugg Wugg (another baby name he responds to!) maybe one of Africa’s smallest cat species but he most certainly has a character of a tiger! This little cat has survived one tragic event after another and still remains positive, loving and keeps everyone on their toes. At around three months old, Mugsy developed a condition called joint ill, which is a bacterial infection that develops in any joint, and left untreated can cause irreparable damage. However, it is highly uncommon in felids, and Mugsy’s case was the first seen by the vets in a kitten. He has been on a extensive course of antibiotics, as well as supportive treatment, but only time will tell with this little tiger as his limbs grow, the full extent of the damage to his leg. It certainly does not hamper his pounce ability!

Apple Blossom – a female common duiker arrived in September, weighing only 2.7kgs together with a fledgling eagle owl, who has aptly been named Archimedes! Once again, both of these critters came from the Darwendale area. We are so relieved that people are bring these orphans in and not just leaving them to a fate we would rather not know about. Apple has adapted to the bottle very well as well as starting on solids. With a piggy squeal, every time you pick her up she has learned what the routine is, and looks forward to her basket of daily delights from dandelions to Msasa leaves.

Each one of these orphans, have their own stories to tell of how they became orphans. Unfortunately most of them have one thing is common, they were all going to die should it not have been for the kind people who found them and brought them into us. In order for Apple to be released from her captors, a goat had to be given as a swop! This does not sound correct, almost like an eye for an eye and which animal has more value? There are question and decisions such as these that we are faced with and morality, does not feature, so it seems with many of these cases.

In July, I travelled to Victoria Falls to see how Makwa and Kennedy were doing at the Wild Horizons Trust. It was great to see that both elephants condition, had improved and they were walking daily into the wild regions surrounding Wild Horizons. Each day they will be learning more and more about what is required ultimately to be a wild elephant. Their characters have emerged little bit by little, Makwa is very much a wild animal at heart, and there is no way she wants to have anything to do with the human ways (she certainly has her head screwed on the right way!) Kennedy however, is much more forgiving and is not so hostile towards his fellow handlers. Whilst I was there, the two young elephants would go out walking daily with Miss Elly and Lulu, together with their minder. From a distance we could watch the four of them interacting with one another. Their trunks, investigating the, new branches and leaves, which they came across whilst on their walk. Early in the morning when they are let out of their stables, their excitement can be seen as their tails are lifted high up into the air and the ears start flapping forward and backwards and they do the elephant jog, not quiet a walk but certainly not a run. We will be following their progress.

One of the Trust’s key species is the Southern African Hedgehog. This tiny spiky creature has become part of our lives in a “big” way! 2010 will be the first year that we will be releasing hedgehogs into the wild. Stuart and Michelle Johnson, who are based in Esigodini, will be heading and monitoring the release of these animals back into their natural environment. With every release project there are mortalities and steps which we take and then have to re-think and step in a totally different direction. Nonetheless, all these steps are vital for the further survival of this species. It still amazes me that there are so many people who are totally unaware that Zimbabwe even has its own hedgehog species!

On the 2^nd of September, Hooch our female wild cat started showing signs which were very similar of that to giving birth. Watching her closely we noticed that by early afternoon she was passing fresh blood. After phoning Clare Savage of Chisipite Vet Surgery, I asked if she would not mind coming on her way after surgery later that same day to check on Hooch. Returning to see Hooch after the phone call, it was evident that she was in terrible pain, arching her back and squatting at the same time. Quickly, we put Hooch into a basket, and called Clare telling her we were on our way and Hooch was not in a good way at all. Both Clare and Margie were quick to react to the very serious situation which we were presented with. Without delay, Hooch was anaesthetised, stomach shaved and Clare cut an incision down the length of her stomach. What Clare discovered was in fact a grossly oversized uterus, which was bleeding from a massive tear running the length of the organ almost to the external opening of Hooch’s genitalia. Literally had we waited another hour or two, it would have cost her life. Drs. Savage and Peacocke did a phenomenal job removing the damaged uterus and repairing the tear. The biggest concern was that Hooch’s bladder would function normally and pass urine out of the body, as opposed to leaking it into her abdomen.

Once sewn up, Hooch was brought home, put inside, on a hot pad, as after an operation of such magnitude, animals struggle to regulate their temperatures. Hooch is our “Grand Dam” who started our African wild cat project so many years ago. It has been a huge hurdle to over come and bring her through the worst of the operation. Despite all our efforts over those first few days, Hooch still developed a condition called, peritonitis and there were some very long and tense hours spent wondering if there was anything further one could possibly do. But true to her indomitable spirit, Hooch was very determined to see just how much extra special treatment she could get out of her adoring humans. Whether it was playing cushion for her to knead and sharpen her claws on, or delicately placing droplets of vanilla yoghurt on her tongue, or simply telling her how much we loved her, Hooch got the very best care and therapy. We are exceptionally pleased to report that Hooch is now almost back to normal, and is re-establishing her pecking order on the outside world. Being spayed now of course Hooch and Starsky are reunited without fear of producing any kittens – they are back in love – Hooch of course in total control of their relationship!

We here at the Trust, would like to thank all of you, who make it possible for us to continue doing the work that we are doing. Each week brings with it new challenges as well as a heart sore story – thankfully due to your support we are able to address each issue and try to solve it, to the best of our ability.