Death Of An Elephant

The story of Zimbabwe, a country which was once called “The Breadbasket of Africa” is a modern-day tragedy. Fertile land, that used to produce enough food to feed the entire country, now lies fallow. Forests have been decimated, the trees cut down to be sold for firewood. Hundreds of thousands of farm workers have lost their homes and their incomes, and are unable to support their familes. Thousands of people have been beaten, tortured and raped. Several hundred have been murdered. All because one man and his political party want to stay in power – no matter the cost to the country.

Once upon a time Zimbabwe had some of the best wildlife in the world. Tourists came from all over the globe to see black rhinoceros, hippopotamus, zebra, lions, antelope, giraffe and elephants in their natural environment, living in wildlife conservancy areas where they were protected by government decree. In February 2000 Robert Mugabe authorized the violent seizures of Zimbabwe’s agricultural land, the results of which have been detailed in the previous paragraph.

When Mugabe’s supporters decided to move onto the wildlife conservancies, the animals paid the most terrible price. It is estimated that Zimbabwe’s wildlife population has been decimated by up to 70 percent because of rampant poaching. In some areas there is no wildlife left. The stories of suffering inflicted on animals that cannot speak for themselves is appalling, and this latest story is an example of just how terribly animals are suffering.


THE GRUESOME DEATH OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELEPHANT


A year ago the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, concerned at the increased poaching in the wildlife conservancy areas, distributed a report about the Presidential Elephant Herd, so named because President Mugabe had promised, in a written decree, to take these elephants under his wing and protect them from hunters and poachers. They were never to become the victims of hunters' bullets and were to be a tourist attraction.

Twelve years after that promise was made, the area which is home to the Presidential Herd, has become a hunting ground. For the past 30 years, only photographic safaris had been allowed there but since the land reform programme was implemented in February 2000, the safari lodges in the area have been taken over by prominent government officials who have turned them into hunting lodges. The government and National Parks have officially banned hunting in the area but the new "owners" of the safari lodges completely ignore the ban and carry on hunting regardless.

In addition to this, due to financial constraints, National Parks are not able to effectively carry out anti poaching patrols or remove snares from the bush. The result of this is a very sad report we have just received about a 3 year old elephant named "Wholesome" who has died a painful, lingering death with a wire snare wrapped around his neck. Wholesome was a member of the Presidential Herd and the following is an extract from the report received from the person who witnessed his death:

This year, in comparison with my previous three years on the Hwange Estate, sightings of the ‘Presidential’ family groups, and indeed of the wildlife in general, have been unusually few. This was concerning enough in itself, but then just yesterday, after a long absence, the ‘W’ family appeared at Kanondo pan, never before covered in weed from lack of use. I watched helplessly, horrified, having just phoned, too late, for darting assistance, as “Whole’s” three-year-old son, “Wholesome”, (whom I have known since he was just days old), died in front of me, a tight wire snare having sliced his little throat. His family was distraught, trying in vain to assist, keeping vigil over his body and later returning to his remains again and again. Such a cruel, tragic, waste of an innocent young life, in addition to placing needless stress on the family group. The state of the wound suggests that “Wholesome” had been suffering unspeakably for many weeks. Both “Whole” and “Wendy” (mother and grandmother) have become extremely thin, presently appearing very ill.

The disappointment and the disillusionment have returned, the optimism and renewed hope waning once more.

It is fitting for me to add just this:
I remain steadfast in my belief that ‘The Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe’, sensibly combined with an excursion into Hwange National Park and a visit to Victoria Falls, should be promoted as one of Zimbabwe’s greatest tourist attractions. For the traveller, it will undoubtedly rank as one of the unrivalled highlights of an African safari. For Zimbabwe, it is incomprehensible to imagine this unique wildlife resource not being, once again, accessible to tourists, nurtured and protected - always. And before it’s too late.

Four photographs were attached with this article. The first one depicted "Wholesome" 30 minutes before he died, the snare visible around his head and neck. In the second one "Wholesome" had collapsed at the edge of some surface water (caused by a burst pipe), his mother, sister and brother trying vainly to raise him - but it appeared that he was already dead. The third one showed his mother and sister standing vigil over his body (pushed into the water during their efforts to assist him; his body is visible in the water between them). The last one showed the gruesome snare wound - the wire still attached - which literally cut his throat.

I wept when I read this story. Elephants have always been my favourite animals, and the pictures of Wholesome’s death are heartbreaking. Further details about the appalling cruelty to Zimbabwe’s wildlife are available from their website:
www.zctf.mweb.co.zw