Authority Investigates Crocodile, Fish Deaths

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Date: 1 October 2007

Author: Dyke Sithole

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is investigating the death of two crocodiles and hundreds of fish at Sondelani Ranch in West Nicholson, an official said yesterday.

The department instituted investigations following an article published in The Chronicle on Saturday, as it had apparently not been informed of the deaths by authorities at the ranch.

In an interview, the western region regional manager Mr Tawanda Gotosa said the deaths of the crocodiles and fish could not be ignored hence the need for an investigation.

"We are sending an investigating team, among them aquatic ecologists and officials from the Environmental Management Authority, to take independent samples of the water and check if there was any foul play. The samples will be tested at local institutions.

"We are expecting the preliminary report to be out by Friday because we feel numbers involved are significant," he said.

Sondelani Ranch is one of the best private wildlife sanctuaries in Matabeleland South Province, which attracts many hunters and fishermen.

Workers at the ranch revealed that two crocodiles, and hundreds of fish, mainly bream and barbel, died under unclear circumstances at the ranch over one week.

While the workers thought there could have been foul play, management insisted the deaths were likely to have been caused by lack of oxygen in the water.

The management reportedly took water samples for testing but did not inform the workers of the results.

The workers ate most of the dead fish.