Monday July 7, 2008, 7:20 pm
For starters I think someone should hunt Mugabe! Hope something can be done about this before it is to late! Thanks Gorilly Girl.

Monday July 7, 2008, 7:23 pm
Why did you mention his name.AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I hate him so F-------- bad....LMAO Now I will go to bed with nightmares again,....LOL

Big Gorilly Hugs

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 4:16 am
Re the recent situation of War vets demanding animals be killed for meat and threatening to take over the park - see story http://www.care2.com/news/member/476826399/802312

The situation was saved by Minister Francis Nhema and the Director of National Parks, Morris Mtsambiwa.

Please write to them to thank them for the authorities' swift intervention on this matter to preserve an important conservation and heritage area for future Zimbabwe community. Please then ask them to ensure that wide scale poaching,slaughter and habitat destruction does not take place as once lost this unique flora and fauna cannot be repalced.

Their addresses are as follows:

FRANCIS D. NHEMA fnhema@ecoweb.co.zw

Morris Mtsambiwa mzmtsambiwa@yahoo.com

Please this is imporatant as the more that such regimes realise that there is international attention and admiration for these areas there may be a better chance of saving.

If you are in a positon to offer a donation the details are as follows. There is no money in Zim -even their SPCA is funded from a neighbouring country and the people doing this work and protecting these animals are doing so at huge personal risk.

This is a message from the Zim Conservation Task Force.

Thanks very much for offering a donation. We would really appreciate it. The easiest way is to go into our website www.zimbabwe-art.com and use our paypal account. The money will be converted to Canadian dollars but don't worry, we will still get it.
Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Landline: 263 4 336710
Landline/Fax: 263 4 339065
Mobile: 263 11 603 213
Email: galorand@mweb.co.zw
Website: www.zctf.mweb.co.zw
Website: www.zimbabwe-art.com

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 4:44 am
Dear Sir,

I am writing to offer my sincere thanks for the swift action of the authorities in preventing the threatened raid, occupation and certain destruction of the Imire Safari park. This park offers a unique and special are of habitat and conservation for Zimbabwe and Africa for rare and threatened flora and fauna.
Such protection of Zimbabwe’s special landscapes, habitats and wildlife is so important and critical to ensure that future people of Zimbabwe will have this as part of their heritage not just a distant memory.
I urge the authorities to further support the preservation of Zimbabwe’s reserves and wildlife against the increase in poaching, slaughter and destruction of essential habitat. These are a long term asset to your country.

Yours sincerely

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 8:36 am
Dangggggg Hilke that was stong...LOL

Big Gorilly Hugs

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 8:59 am
Noted with anger. Thanks Gorilla Girl.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 10:13 am
Hilke I did not mean to upset you....

Big Gorilly Hugs

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 11:39 am
I think I have stumbled into the "Twilight Zone"

Is this the "Zimbabwe Poaching Thread?" If so, Thanks for posting this story Stephanie. Duly noted. Looks like there is at least some up-beat news on this with some positive action being taken by the relevant authorities. Keep us posted on any further developments please.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 12:10 pm
STEPHANIE thanks for giving us this information .........

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 12:15 pm
I see a lot of comments have disappeared since my last visit

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 2:15 pm
I have had to remove some flaming comments from this thread. Let's all try to remember to be nice to each other. You may review our flaming policy here:

http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/655120

Remember to treat others how you would like to be treated. This is the internet and things are easily taken out of context without a tone of voice or facial expression to read with the words.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 4:12 pm
Letters sent Linda.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 5:04 pm
short cut, Linda, track down safari hunters, paid by big money goffers, why are you asking us this, anybody can track this down on internet, you want me to pay for keeping the wildlife up to date, track down big punters, and don't ask me to feel pity, because you know better, don't fool me.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 5:15 pm
I CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH ALL THE EMAIL ADDRESSES BIG GAME HUNTERS, FAIRY LAND AGAIN, SHANTY ZIMBABWE AND THE WORLD IS DOING NOTHING, LIKE IN DARFUR, LIKE EVERWHERE,YET TO CELEBRATE THE OLYMPICS, TO CELEBRATE HOW GRANT WE ARE AS A BREED, ME AS AN ATHLETE WOULD FORGET ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE MY WORRIES ARE ELSEWHERE, MANDELA'S PEACE DONE IN, SUCH AS MAHATMA GANDHI, SUCH AS MOTHER THERESA, SUCH IN NAMELESS PEOPLE, LIKE JILL ROBINSON AND DR. JOHN WETTTERBURN,

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 5:36 pm
on my knees for ever to give my life to save another creature

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 10:53 pm
With so many comments now missing, this thread no longer makes any sense.

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 1:01 am
Marena just go back to the the news story -there is an increase in poching in Zimabawe due to current situation.

There was a recent raid on a conservation area Imire Ranch which the authorities did act to protect. http://www.care2.com/news/member/476826399/802312

I have asked that e-mails be sent to the relevant people to thank them for intervention and to do amap to stop poaching and habitat destruction.

My actions are not done to condone or support the current regime - far from it - I have links with Zimbabwe and have heard first hand accounts of the reality there.

But the animals are not part of the political problem. And whatever I can do in a diplomatic way to help them I will. Jill Robinson of AAF does not necessary support every regime in Asia but she works with the authorities to get her results.

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 2:25 am
jill is clever, and that is the only way, she explicitly asks that as well, because after korea seoul olympics, the people weren't going to listen to animal wellfare groups, and ricochet effect made the problem worse. And 6 months ago I already stated that poaching is going to be on the increase. When the whole world stands by and studies their navels, another big state moves in, guess who is expanding. Tesco doesn''t listen to animal protest pleas about killing on the spot alive turtles in the supermarket fresh meat counter, have you checked that petition, and Linda, what are you saying, if they kill people and the world shuts their eyes, animals are just nothing, diplomacy, my ok, I'll behave. very unbecoming terms come to mind. Right on our doorstep under our eyes, in Europe, in Austria, ????????????. I have links with south africa, so what?????. Next year I will probably dye my hand with ink to show that I have voted, sleep on, just buy yourselves silly in shopping malls,have bbq parties with the neighbours in the garden and forget that Mr Kafka ever existed, or George Orwell for that matter, no just watch Oprah Winfrey with self help groups, and you won't be doing bad at all. And at the end of your life, look back in content how good a citizen you have been, dream on babes.

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 2:34 am
what about the chinese vessel delivering arms and wanting to be paid with it with Ivory Elephant Tusks. the real McCoy Ivory, FORGOTTEN HAVE WE, ALZHEIMER HAVE WE, GOD I AM SO FORSAKEN ANGRY. Diplomacy, don't make me laugh, if anything Diplomacy looks for opportunities to enrich and liaisons with multinationals, that is Diplomacy, bank accounts and nothing else, scratch the surface, and maybe you don't want to know. Enough, I have said enough.

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 8:06 am
Your right Steph they need to get control of this for if they don't they will kill all of the Elephants. Another source of food must be found let them eat whater face!!! and be done with him and eat the pouchers leave the animals alone golly gee !!! note

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 11:38 am
Thank you Linda. I went back and read the story. You are right, sometimes it is better to "catch flies with honey" no matter how odiuous one finds having to do that.

I have a foster son in Zimbabwe (one in Ghana and one in Nepal as well) and get daily up-dates from him. I have asked him for more information on the situation and he tells me it is really a very bad. The Imire Ranch situation has been defused (for the time being at least) One can only hope there wont be a relapse there. Unfortunately, no matter how angry we get HERE over the poaching and destruction of habitat, it wont make any difference at all if we only confine it to comments on this thread. Some positive action is needed and if that means we have to politely write to the powers that be - than we have to take a deep breath and do it. After all, it is for the animals and not for our own egos.

Wednesday July 9, 2008, 5:20 pm
Good to see the updates that some action has been taken to stop the poaching. Thanks, Stephanie ( and Hilke and Linda for extra info).