Organization of The Day: Elephant Pepper Trust

When human-wildlife conflict results in the deaths of wildlife, the outcome can be far-reaching for those populations. Such situations are further amplified when they lead to human deaths as well. Human-wildlife conflict can be caused by a number of factors, but is most commonly agriculture-related. In Africa (and Asia), farmers often find themselves in a gruesome battle defending their livelihood against relentlessly hungry elephants that raid their crop fields.

From beating drums to deploying fireworks to attempting to chase elephants away (which frequently results in human deaths), farmers are often left sleep-deprived and profitless from their agricultural investments. That is until 2002 when stars aligned and a chance meeting between Australian businessman, Michael Gravina, and elephant biologist, Dr. Loki Osborne, resulted in the Elephant Pepper Development Trust (EPDT) and gave new hope to small-scale farmers plagued with elephant problems. Methods for deterring the hungry elephants are only effective if they involve minimal costs and provide long-term solutions. EPDT struck gold when they discovered that elephants are inherently repelled by the smell of chili peppers.

Chilies are easy to grow as they survive in some of the more extreme conditions found in Africa that other crops cannot survive in, are money-making cash crops, and are unpalatable and revolting to most mammal “pests”. EPDT trains local farmers how to implement the use of chilies into their farming practices in a number of ways. Chilies can be planted to create an elephant-repellent buffer zone between valuable crops and wooded elephant habitat. Farmers can also saturate simple string fences with chili grease to discourage elephants from entering. At night (the time when crops are typically raided by the giant pachyderms), briquettes made of chilies and elephant dung can be burned to keep elephants away. Though often skeptical at first, once farmers see the success of these methods playing out for their neighbors, they become sold on these sustainable ideas and seek help from EPDT immediately.

Currently, the Trust is working with communities in areas of Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia with great success, and uses Educational Demonstration sites to educate farmers about their methods.To increase benefits from the use of chilies, EPDT has joined with African Spices Pvt Ltd. to buy surplus chilies from the farmers which are then used to create delicious chili-based, “uniquely African” blends that are sold commercially as an organic, fair trade product. In this way, the farmers profit from the crops that have been protected by the chili methods, from the chili crop, and from the peace of mind brought to them as a result of all of these factors. Elephant conflicts become almost non-existent, preventing the death and injuries of both humans and elephants in a win-win situation.

10% of profits from “Elephant Pepper” products are given back to EPDT to be used for improving and expanding their program to more farmers and communities. This program also provides a way for the global community to become involved with elephant conservation by purchasing the delicious products and supporting the cause. EPDT’s problem animal control methods help to eliminate serious human-wildlife conflicts and can be used to do the same in other areas of the world where elephants and humans have been battling to the death.

To learn more, please visit their website

Family of 10 slaughtered on the Zimbabwe Mozambique border…

Poachers shot and killed 10 elephants at one spot in Gonarezhou National Park in Chikombedzi along Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique and South Africa last week. The elephant carcasses without tusks were found lying along Mutandanjiva River near the road to Ndali communal lands in the north-eastern part of Gonarezhou.

Family of elephants left for dead

Parks and Wildlife Management Authority immediately put a US$1,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the poachers. “The carcasses were discovered on June 1 and several spent cartridges from an FN riffle were found on the scene. The tusks were removed in what appeared to be a well-organized professional job.”

Ranger holding bloody ivory

Parks spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the newly appointed Parks Director General, Mr Vitalis Chadenga visited Gonarezhou at the weekend to get first hand information and he was satisfied by the level of investigations taking place, with assistance from national security agents.

To read the full article, click here

BUSH WARRIORS RHINO WEEK…….

One of the most endangered species on our planet is the Rhino. These extraordinary creatures  are in danger of extinction in the wild, due mostly to rampant illegal slaughter for their horns and increasingly to habitat loss. If not for conservation efforts, there would be no wild rhinos alive today.

There are five species of Rhinos on our planet:
BLACK

WHITE

INDIAN – Greater one horned

JAVAN

SUMATRAN

As a celebration of these majestic animals we would like to announce this week as a Rhino Week in Bush Warriors. We have teamed up with Saving Rhinos to bring you up to date information about these majestic creatures including posters and fact sheets. Feel free and please share these fact sheets and posters with everyone you know.

As part of the Rhino week, this week’s theme in Photo Of The Day Contest will be Rhinos as well….. so if you have rhino photos that you would like to share with us pls Click Here to go and upload your photos to our Photo of The day Contest page…

Have a GREAT Week.

Dori & The Bush Warriors Clan

Suspected Poachers Leave Zimbabwe Policeman in Critical Condition

A policeman was seriously injured this past week following an exchange of gunfire between police officers and five Mozambicans in the Dumisa area of Chiredzi near the Gonarezhou National Park. The encounter occurred amid reports that security has been tightened along the Zimbabwe-Mozambican border to curb poacher incursions. The policeman, whose name could not be released to the press, was reported to be in critical condition in Chiredzi District Hospital.

Police detectives on patrol, together with officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, spotted the five after they had stopped their car which had developed a mechanical fault. Upon noticing the police and game rangers, the five suspected poachers opened fire and seriously injured one of the policemen. Police returned fire and the suspected poachers took to their heels . However, the police gave chase and arrested two of the Mozambicans. Three managed to escape.

Zimbabwean Police Officers

To read the full article, click here

SA: Rhino Poaching Syndicate Busted by Government Authorities

Last year 95% of all rhino poaching cases occurred in South Africa and Zimbabwe as rhino poaching reached a 15 year high.  Rhino horns are used in traditional Asian medicines, and more and more poaching syndicates have been forming around this highly lucrative market.  Recently one of these syndicates was shut down by the Johannesburg National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).  The NPA arrested men who are accused of killing 17 rhino in Kruger National Park, the Mfolozi National Park, and a number of game farms.  Along with the arrests they seized an airplane which is thought to be used to transport poachers, transport horns, and spot and target rhinos.  Three members have already been charged and sentenced with six more awaiting trial.

A black rhino

A black rhino that was killed and then had its horn removed to be sold on the black market

A poacher, his weapons and the horn that he illegally removed from an endangered black rhino

To read the full article about the poaching syndicate’s arrest click here

*Graphic Warning* The Forgotten Story Behind Bushmeat – The Plight of the Starving People of Zimbabwe

Society, in some areas, has been growing at an exponential rate. As we progress further into the 21st century some could say that we’ve been growing at such a breakneck pace that we often times forget about what’s going on in the world around us. This is unfortunate because we often times take things for granted and overlook issues that still plague humanity, like starvation.

In Zimbabwe the death of a bull elephant is a blessing.  Starving villagers are able to use every piece of the elephant for food, including the trunk and ears.  Even the bones are used as they are boiled for soup; within 24 hours there is nothing left of what was a 13ft Elephant.

The body of a dead Bull Elephant is discovered deep in the bush

Just moments later people from local villages arrive

An elephant such as this that succumbs to old age can provide an entire village with food.  Is the death of a giant of the savanna sad?  Yes, but this animal was not killed for two tusks, it was not slaughtered in order to sell ivory to fuel the worlds greed.  It was allowed to live its life, father children, and then, when its time came, its death blessed an entire village of starving men, women, and children with the food they need in order to survive.  This is the true circle of life; nothing of this elephant was wasted.  The entire body was used, and its life was not ended short in order for that to happen.

Villagers stand watching as men cut up and distribute meat

Everyone rushing in to get something to bring back home

Poaching destroys the ability for these giant, majestic animals and human beings to coexist on this planet.  Poachers kill without a thought for anything but the two tusks that they can remove; they don’t use the meat, they don’t use the bones, they don’t use the skin.  If an entire village can be fed for days on a single elephant, just image the amount of food that could be gleaned from the approximately 23,000 elephants that are killed each year by poachers.

Villagers stand by all that is left but bones, even that will be used

In Zimbabwe alone, 2.17 million people are starving, according to the Red Cross.  That is one in four people in dire need of food, but instead we in the West and Asia support the poachers by buying ivory piano keys, ivory canes, ivory chotchkies, etc. etc.

A lone villager stands where the carcass once stood

So, what do we value?  Pretty objects that are smooth and nice to touch, or the salvation of an entire continent of the largest land animals left on our planet and the people who share the land with them?  The decision is up to all of us to make, but personally, I can’t even believe that a decision between people’s and animal’s lives and petty possessions can actually exist.

To End Starvation in Africa and around the world , Click Icon..

To read the full article click here

2009: Bleak Year for Rhinos, Reports of worldwide poaching at 15 year high

Last year, rhino poaching worldwide hit a 15-year high due to increased demand for rhino horn. A recent report by TRAFFIC and IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, showed that since 2006, 95 percent of the poaching in Africa has occurred in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Furthermore the report analyzes poaching incidents by month and through certain countries. It is a good reminder of the issues conservation leaders faced around CoP14 last year and the events and statistics leading to CoP15 which takes place in a few weeks.

Most rhino horns leaving southern Africa are destined for medicinal markets in southeast and east Asia, especially Vietnam, where demand has escalated in recent years.

To Read the Full Report by IUCN, TRAFFIC and WWF…Click Here

Poaching war in Zimbabwe escalates as more suspected poachers nabbed

Police in Masvingo have arrested four people suspected to be on a poaching expedition and recovered a 303 rifle fitted with a silencer and telescopic lance and 42 live rounds of ammunition. Two others were arrested after they were found in possession of a fresh rhino horn which they failed to account for. Confirming the arrest to Sunday News last Thursday, police spokesman for Masvingo Province Inspector Tinaye Matake said police in Mwenezi arrested Freedom Chiradza (35), Almon Ndlovu (32), Humbulani Ndou (32) and Rueben Sibanda (43) in the Mbuyana Conservancy in Mwenezi. Further investigations by the police led to the arrest of Loveness Moyo (35) and Rogers Mukwena (40) who were found in possession of a rhino horn that they also failed to account for.

To Read the Article…Click Here

Zimbabwe: Game Rangers Kill Zambia Poacher

Game rangers in Zimbabwe said Friday they had killed a Zambian poacher and arrested eight others, after a shoot-out in a wildlife park near the countries’ common border.

They said they recovered 20 elephant tusks, rifles and other arms from the suspe cted poachers in Binga, in the north of the country. Poaching in the area is rife, prompting the Zimbabwe government to introduce arm y and police patrols to back up the game rangers. Often the poaching is blamed on syndicates from Zambia who target elephants and endangered black rhinos. In the shoot-out, game rangers said police took part in the skirmish in which on e of the Zambian poachers died.

To see article, click here

Trading Rhino Horns for Guns: Is Zimbabwe Poaching Linked to Chinese Weapons Acquisition?

Now that Zimbabwe security forces stand accused by CITES of involvement in the country’s wildlife poaching crisis, there is speculation that this corruption extends to a “rhino horn for weapons” deal with China.

If the Zimbabwean government’s deal to acquire Chinese weapons includes access to rhino horn, it would certainly help explain the country’s loss of a quarter of its rhino population and abysmal conviction rate for rhino poaching.

Rhino horns on the market in China

Confiscated rhino horns from the black market.

Click here to read the full article