Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
THE collaboration between the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has made remarkable progress in addressing wildlife crime within the Hwange-Zambezi and Matetsi landscapes.
Key initiatives include establishing a K9 dog handling training camp and acquiring vehicles, among other measures.
So far, this partnership has invested over US$4 million along with various non-monetary benefits to enhance wildlife protection and support efforts, particularly within Hwange National Park. Looking ahead, the partnership has unveiled an ambitious vision that encompasses transboundary crime interventions at the Kaza TFCA Victoria Falls Airport, the facilitation of collaborative wildlife crime control meetings through the KAZA Secretariat, and the creation of rapid response units at strategic hotspots.
On Tuesday last week, Zimparks Director General Dr Fulton Mangwanya officially opened the Zambezi Park K9 unit housing facility for rangers on training under the partnership including commissioning two off-road vehicles valued at US$100 000.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Mangwanya said the authority has adopted the use of technologies such as camera traps, drones and has also established the K-9 unit as a way to complement its law enforcement strategies.
He said the organisation has K-9 unit’s establishments in Matobo National Park, Hwange National Park, Zambezi National Park and aims at establishing more units in other protected areas.
“This facility, specifically designed to accommodate our dedicated dog handlers during training sessions and refresher courses, represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat wildlife crime and protect our precious biodiversity.
“The Zambezi National Park K-9 training facility shall therefore be used to support the thrust in establishing the other K-9 units across the country. It will allow the continuous training and support needed by the K-9 units as a way of increasing and strengthening wildlife protection in other potential areas,” said Dr Mangwanya.
He said under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, the Zimbabwean government is prioritizing environmental protection, climate resilience, and natural resource management which alongside its dedicated partners, is actively engaging in a series of strategic initiatives aimed at safeguarding the rich ecosystems and promoting the restoration of biodiversity.
Turing to the brand-new law enforcement land cruiser vehicles they received for Matetsi Safari Area, Dr Mangwanya said the development represents another major boost to the mobility that will enhance efforts to protect our wildlife heritage.
“These vehicles are more than just tools-of-trade; they are instruments for surveillance and monitoring, symbols of our commitment to safeguarding the future of Zimbabwe’s wildlife heritage. As we receive these vehicles, we reaffirm our commitment to, protecting biodiversity, combating wildlife trafficking and ensuring sustainable conservation,” said Dr Mangwanya.
IFAW Country Director Ms Alleta Nyahuye said the K9 unit is one of the strategies being implemented by IFAW in partnership with Zimparks to complement other technology-based approaches for combating wildlife crime.
“This initiative includes the use of detection dogs, training for handlers, and the establishment of K9 standard operating procedures with appreciation to our IFAW France office and partner – Take Action Trust which offers technical and practical training to the K9 unit.
“The Zimparks K9 unit manager went to France in the last month for the World ranger conference. We stand with ZimParks in the fight against wildlife crime and will support interventions to reduce this across the landscape,” said Ms Nyahuye.
She highlighted the big, ambitious vision that IFAW has for the future which include transboundary crime interventions at Victoria Falls airport, facilitation of transboundary meetings for collaborative wildlife crime control through the KAZA Secretariat as well as establishing rapid response units at strategic points or hotspots.
ZimParks and IFAW are collaborating on anti-poaching, anti-trafficking, law enforcement, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, wildlife research, and community engagement through a Traditional Leaders Network Forum.
To date, the partnership has seen in excess of US$4 million and related non-monetary benefits being injected into the landscape through a transparent, accountable, harmonious co-creating, co-designing model.
@nyeve14
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