The Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU) has reported an upsurge in wildlife poaching with three buffaloes, one kudu and three hornbills killed in April.
In the same period, two elephants died after being hit by a goods train
In its latest poaching update since reporting the killing and decapitation of a lioness in March, the VFAPU also noted that tireless efforts by its rangers, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority ((Zimparks) and the Wild Horizons Anti-Poaching Unit led to the arrest of seven individuals in and around Victoria Falls.
The organisation said its game rangers have not rested since the gruesome killing of the lioness.
“In the same week as the lion killing, we reacted to an incursion along the boundary of the (Zambezi National) Park,” VFAPU said.
“Poachers had entered and killed three buffalo. A contact was had where 14 poachers exploded from the bush before we could pounce.
“They left all their belongings including sacks of meat and wire snares.
“Follow up investigations led to the arrest and conviction of two individuals, while others are still on the run.”
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Within days of the buffalo loss, the unit tried and failed to save two elephants that were hit by a train along the line between Victoria Falls and Hwange.
The organisation suffered more wildlife losses before cornering some of criminals behind the poaching scourge.
“On the same day, the remains of a young kudu were found, stuffed in a sack and disposed of,” VFAPU said.
“Although there is no crime scene, chances are that this was a poaching incident.
“This was a truly horrifying period for the motivation of our unit, with all the animal deaths around us in such a short space of time.
“Then we had some good wins which remind us of the value we add to the fight. We arrested an individual for the death of three hornbills chicks, the nest having been on a tree he cut down.
“Through our informer network, we reacted to a waterbuck poaching incident and our efforts resulted in the arrest of five individuals.
“Our big win was the successful arrest of a notorious poacher who is responsible for many animal deaths and a prime suspect in the killing of the lioness in March.”
The poacher was reportedly caught by the Wild Horizons Anti-Poaching Unit while poaching on their concession.
The suspect has since been convicted and sentenced to 12 months in prison for wildlife poaching.
Over the past decade, Victoria Falls and its surrounding parks areas have witnessed an upsurge in the poaching of wildlife with snare poaching emerging to become the most potent threat to wildlife around the resort town.
Although snare poachers are predominantly peasants seeking bushmeat to feed their families, there has been an increase in commercial scale poaching in which poachers set many snares to catch more animals so that they can sell the meat.
The high price of beef and other legal meat substitutes makes bushmeat more attractive to Zimbabwean consumers because poachers sell in bulk, but for far less when compared to legal meat outlets.
