ZimParks-IFAW wildlife conservation strategies a gamechanger

THE International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) partnership has made significant strides in conservation efforts that have curbed poaching and promoted tourism in the Hwange National Park.

This month marks three years since the signing of a groundbreaking partnership aimed at enhancing wildlife conservation in key protected areas in the country. The international non-governmental organisation and ZimParks have been working together in the Hwange-Matetsi ecosystem covering the iconic Hwange National Park, Zambezi National Park and Victoria Falls National Park.

The partnership, which has already seen US$3m of the US$5m fund being channelled towards different projects, boasts of numerous key achievements. A media tour was organised to ensure an appreciation of the projects in the iconic national park being undertaken under the partnership.

One of the key achievements so far has been the construction of the Makona Ranger Station. Through the fund, a state-of-the-art administration block, 14 semi-detached accommodation facilities and a recreational facility have been constructed.

The construction of the ranger station has been described as a game changer in conservation as the area was the epicentre of the 2013 catastrophe which made headlines after 300 elephants were killed through cyanide poisoning.

The lethal poison was laced on salt licks by poachers who snuck into the park through a rural outpost 10km from Makona Station and 100km from the main camp.

The absence of a fully equipped and capacitated base compromised reaction by rangers as they were deployed from the main camp, 100km away. IFAW communications officer Mr Luckmore Safuli said it is their ambitious plan to invest in conservation infrastructure to protect biodiversity, conserve ecological processes, and promote human livelihoods and well-being in the approximately four-million-acre landscape that is a key anchor to the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA).

“We are extremely excited about the significant strides that have been made in the implementation of the value-driven conservation agreement between ZimParks and IFAW. Under the historic agreement, our main objective is to address some of the key conservation challenges being faced in and around Hwange National Park, namely poaching and human wildlife conflict.

“A key milestone under the partnership is construction of the new Makona Ranger base in the southern part of the iconic park. We believe the infrastructure project will help ensure effective law enforcement and boost the morale of the brave men and women tasked with the responsibility of protecting the treasured wildlife resources.”

Hwange National Park has not recorded any cases of poaching of elephants since 2020, on the back of improved conservation efforts enhanced by such partnerships.

“ZimParks-IFAW partnership has helped reduce poaching incidents at Hwange National Park. Over the past three years, we have recorded zero elephants poaching cases at the iconic park largely due to the interventions aimed at strengthening law enforcement. As IFAW, we foresee Hwange National Park - which is home to an estimated 45 000 elephants playing an important role in our Room to Roam initiative. Under the Room to Roam initiative, we seek to connect and secure habitats and create safe passages for animals to move more freely,” said Mr Safuli.

ZimParks public relations manager Mr Tinashe Farawo said the relationship they have with IFAW was bearing fruits that were game changers in the conservation efforts. He said the new ranger station constructed in the Makona area would make it a safer place for elephants and other animals to live.

“This is a game changing project which we are benefiting from the relationship that we have had with the International Fund for Animal Welfare for the past three years. It is going to help us in a big way. You will remember that a few years ago, we were having a poaching problem in this area where poachers were putting salt licks around this area, it was very difficult for us to react because we were deploying our rangers from the main camp which is about 100km away.

“It is also going to help us to react in timetothecommunitiesastheyare10km away. This facility has an administration block and accommodation facilities with 14 semi-detached houses as well which are almost complete and are ready for occupation. There is also an entertainment facility whereafter a hard day at work our rangers can go and occupy themselves with TV, pool and other recreational activities.

“We are very happy as an organisation by such partnerships. We are looking out to have more partners so that we can successfully manage our wildlife not only for the benefit of this generation but for future generations. This is a very good resource and the relationship is bearing fruit,” he said.

Another key achievement of the IFAW-ZimParks agreement was the improvement of the 90km road linking Hwange Main Camp and Makona substation a key artery in Hwange, cutting a journey that could take up to four hours down to less than two hours.

The rehabilitated road has not only helped rangers to swiftly react in operations but also enabled tourists to visit areas that were previously inaccessible by non-four-wheel drive vehicles. The partnership has also seen the installation of a landscapewide VHF radio network to improve response to incidents of poaching.

“The park which is nestled on the edge of the Kalahari Desert is home to some of Africa’s big five. Being largely flat and dominated by scattered woodlands of teak trees, it was an easy target for poachers. - @nyeve14