Project Report January 2004 (Gwayi):
Date: January 2004
Source: Born Free Foundation
Author: Anon
Poaching activity in the Gwayi is currently at a very low level, however experience tells us that this is a temporary state of affairs brought about by the onset of the rains. Difficult to understand perhaps but what we have found is that at this time of the year many people turn their attention to ploughing their fields and planting maize and therefore do not have enough time for poaching!! We have not received any reports of any animal carrying a snare for two months now. What does remain though is the task of collecting in all the snares that have been set over the years and that still wait, rather like a land mine, ready and willing to do their terrible work. Consequently both units are still extremely busy patrolling, maintaining the vigilance and presence that is so vital if any sort of control is to be kept over this illegal activity. This last point is perhaps one that gets overlooked; poaching is illegal hunting, as the poachers often have no right of access to the land. Consequently, though the poaching is undoubtedly poverty driven it is also an illegal commercial activity and as such the police are happy to enforce the law when our Sikhosana and his men catch any poachers.
Thus a state of perpetual motion endures and we are busy preparing for 2004. While I mention the onset of the rains, concern is growing about the actual lack of rain. In a recent meeting with Chief Nelukoba he expressed his anxiety about what promises to be yet another year of little rainfall for the local people in the Gwayi, who rely so heavily on a good harvest from their fields to make it through the year. On our part, experience has again taught us that poor rains and the resultant poor harvest translates rapidly into an upsurge in poaching. People have to eat. With the economy in a state of free fall adding to the problems we have been actively trying to turn the words of those expressing concern into direct action. Consequently Sikhosana and his team have been training the fledgling anti poaching units that are springing up in effective patrolling, arresting techniques and basic first, this testament to the excellent training that was afforded our own units by Martin Stiemer. Providing uniforms as further encouragement we are aiming to harness this new enthusiasm, attempting to be pro-active, as we know what is in store early next year.
We will monitor the progress of these new units, Sikhosana and his team have a programme developed that will see them rotating on a regular basis with each new unit in order to check on the work they are doing and provide further training. If he is happy with the work then we will continue to provide additional items of field kit such as boots, hats, back packs etc…. and so maintain the enthusiasm. A further positive effect of this involvement with the new units is that the prestige of our own units has risen even further as they are now seen as the "professional" anti poaching unit. Additionally, the training that our men are providing of course keeps their own level of "fitness" up, which is of course vital for their effectiveness to be maintained.
The elephants are noticeable by their absence at the moment. Better rainfall deep inside the park has hopefully drawn them there, though there are signs that a sizeable number have remained north of the Hwange National Park boundary along the Gwayi River. As stated though we have not received any reports of any snared animals nor have the teams located any fresh carcasses for some time now.
So all in all the signs are encouraging but we will not relax. There are only four dogs in the western side of the Gwayi, while the situation in the eastern side remains unclear at the moment. The loss of Heritage and Pelota remain as very painful reminders of the dogs particular vulnerability to poaching. Born Free's support this year has been tremendous and allowed us to maintain some sort of lid on the poaching epidemic. It is frightening to contemplate what we would be left with without this support. The task now is to build on what we have achieved; our own very effective teams setting the example that others are now willing to follow. Then we can perhaps look forward to the Gwayi, that essential buffer zone for Hwange National park, again being a safe haven for the dogs and the remaining game.
Below are the tables detailing the snares collected during the last three months.
Western Gwayi:
| Month | Type and number of snare | |||||
| Steel Old | Steel New | Cable Old | Cable New | Total/Month | Animals Caught | |
| October | 33 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 61 | 1 |
| November | 49 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 73 | 0 |
| December | 26 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 42 | 4 |
| Totals | 108 | 30 | 28 | 10 | 176 | 5 |
Eastern Gwayi:
| Month | Type and number of snare | |||||
| Steel Old | Steel New | Cable Old | Cable New | Total/Month | Animals Caught | |
| October | 64 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 137 | 12 |
| November | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 75 | 1 |
| December | 27 | 34 | 33 | 25 | 119 | 23 |
| Totals | 110 | 80 | 75 | 66 | 331 | 36 |