Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Will the people of DR Congo ever get a break? The BBC says it has new sources of evidence to show that UN Peacekeepers have been involved in trading arms to militia in eastern Congo in return for gold and ivory (click on the image to go to the story)
Website founder Rick LoBello, on a limited basis, is offering a copy of his Favorite Wildlife Encounters DVD to anyone who makes a contribution to WildlifeDirect (valid within the US only).
To qualify for the DVD please e-mail a copy of your WildlifeDirect Inc receipt to rickllobello@cs.com. Favorite Wildlife Encounters takes you on a tranquil journey into the landscape of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Wolong Nature Preserve (home of Giant Pandas in China) and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda (home on Mountain Gorillas).
Over at This is Zimbabwe, Sokwanele reports on the killing of three black rhinos that took place last week at Imire Game Farm. What follows is a heavily edited version of the original blog post:
Sprinter; the killers tried to remove what little horn she had left. “Reports are that their killers arrived at the farm on Wednesday evening dressed in Zimbabwe Army camouflage fatigues and that they were armed with AK-47 rifles. They beat up a maid and left her tied her up. They then forced someone else to lead them to the rhino pens where they viciously assaulted the guards whose job it was to watch over the vulnerable animals all day and all night. Amber, DJ and Sprinter were shot and killed, and only Tatenda, a four-week-old calf, was left unharmed. “The senselessness of their killings is compounded by the fact that two months ago a decision was taken at Imire to have Amber, DJ and Sprinter dehorned - this is a procedure that involves a wildlife veterinarian literally sawing off the rhino’s horn. “We had an approximate 7,500 black rhino in Zimbabwe in the 1980s and wildlife experts estimate now that only 500 black rhino are still surviving. This figure represents a very small gene pool, and three healthy adult black rhinos therefore play a critical role in building a healthy population that will help the species to survive.
Amber’s Unborn Calf “Imire, has lost their entire adult population and now face a struggle to protect the four remaining orphans under their care. In addition to this farm’s losses, it is reported that a large conservancy in the Mavuradonha area, about 200km north of Harare, had their rhino population fall from 54 to 8 in the last year. Other conservancies in the central Midlands province lost 31 in the same period, and are down to 21 now. The rhino ‘iceberg’ is melting fast, and if steps are not taken to address the grotesque scale of the problem, then very soon – perhaps in a few short years - there will be no black rhino left in Zimbabwe at all. “[In Zimbabwe] inflation stood at 7 892,1% in September 2007 (independent estimates put real inflation closer to 25 000%). Hyperinflation, coupled with massive unemployment, food shortages and declining social services leads to increasing desperation among decent Zimbabweans. Add to that a social environment where the rule of law is discarded in favour of political imperatives, it isn’t difficult to see how poaching for something as internationally lucrative as ‘rhino horn’ starts to look like a viable survival option with diminished risks. It is hardly surprising in this context that, having slaughtered Amber, DJ and Sprinter, the poachers spent some time trying to hack out the inch of new horn growth from Sprinter’s face. Regardless of why they were originally there – whether they were soldiers or poachers – even the smallest piece of horn in a crumbling economy was too tempting an opportunity to pass up.” For the full story go over to the Sokwanele blog, and please subscribe to their feed for up-to-date reports on what is happening in Zimbabwe right now.
Here is the voice of a country that needs to be heard.
An eBay art auction starts today to help the Gorilla Protection cause. Log into eBay between the 8th and the 18th of September, 2007 Enter the search word WDGP to view the artist’s work supporting WildlifeDirect and bid on your favorites!
Tribute to Mburanumwe
Ranger Kambale Mulondi, who was shot in his leg whilst patrolling in Tshiaberimu, is positively recovering. Although the bullet hole has completely healed, he is feeling constant pain despite the medicine taken daily.
The doctor has said he has got another 6 months of recovery, but Kambale is confident he will be back in service late October. Although he is getting monthly financial support from ZSL, school term has started this week, and Kambale has got a big family, so he needs to pay for school fees for 6 out of his 8 children.
Thanks for your donations, WildlifeDirect has been able to support Kambale and his family financially since August 1st until he is fully recovered. This is with donation money.
Robin Andreaes’ tribute to silverback Senkekwe is ready! ‘It’s kind of a composite from several photos that I could find of him. I hope it looks like him. It’s kind of weird, I ended up unintentially putting what looks
The painting will be up for auction on eBay from September 8 to 18th. If you search the keyword “WDGP”, during that time, you can view all of the art from this talented group. Robin has gathered together over 30 artists who will be kindly donating anywhere from 10% to 100% to
Their web address is Very many thanks to you all from the Rangers and WildlifeDirect!
This story came out yesterday on the BBC website after the announcement that a male gorilla had been born in Congo. You can read more about it here.
The Insiders Africa Photo Safari Course 2007 - Calling All Keen Photographers! Photographing Predators, Prey, Land and People Ol Pejeta Conservancy is one of the locations for this forthcoming photographic workshop hosted by one of Africa’s most internationally acclaimed photographers: Richard du Toit. Starting at Ol Pejeta Bush Camp, guests will be guided through three of Kenya’s best photographic locations, covering the annual wildebeest migration of over 1m animals in the Masai Mara, spectacular landscapes, and the culture of the Maasai people. * Unique field workshop built around one of the best photographers, Richard du Toit, and 3 of the most spectacular locations in the whole of Africa: Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the Masai Mara Conservancy, and Solio Ranch Dates: September 22nd to October 1st 2007 ************************************************************************************************
I received this email this morning from the people in Mozambique who sent me the pictures I posted yesterday about the Serval that was shot. Dear Samantha, Thanks for your E-mail re the Serval trapped then shot last Friday. The killing took place outside the Maputo Elephant Reserve, not too far, about 15 or 20 kms from the Reserve in an area that is supposed to be “a protected biodiversity area” as it is a natural continuation of the St. Lucia/Kosi Bay reserves just accross the border and a corridor area for the Tembe and Maputo transfrontier parks agreement signed between SA and Mozambique. Every day poachers in the area use wire lace traps to catch all kinds of animals. Yet, lace traps of any kind are totally forbidden by law under any circumstances. A civil servant with a rifle and a taste for blood (he confesses that even if it werent for the money he would still kill as he “needs to kill and see blood”… he alone is responsible for the death of most species of gazelle in the district. As for the Serval it is a wild cat protected by Mozambican law: the fine for hunting a Serval is 5.000 Meticais (circa US$200). The Serval, by law, cant even be hunted legally in hunting grounds by people with hunting licences. Who we are? the person who sent you the original photos is a close friend. I am a Mozambican woman who, with other people, is trying to establish a new nature conservation NGO. Until the new Association is has a legal existence we cannot do much nor say much as you may well understand. Once the new Association comes into being we will let you know and then you may tell the world about us and our aims and objectives. If you ever come to Mozambique please do not hesitate to contact us. Thanks again for your interest and for placing the photos in the Web. Regards, |
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