ULTIMATE
AFRICA SAFARIS
Ultimate Africa travel and wildlife news archive October 1998 Poaching Engenders Tuskless Elephants in Uganda, October 4 1998 Through a process of selection forced by poachers who prey on elephants with large tusks, elephants in western Uganda are being born without tusks or with smaller, lighter ones, a scientist with the Uganda Wildlife Authority has said. Eve Lawino Abe said 15% of adult cow elephants in the Queen Elizabeth National Park are being born without tusks and that others have been born with one tusk, or tusks that are lighter and smaller. "The tuskless gene is something which we have done as human beings. We have removed these genes from the population," Ms Abe said. "Over the years animals with large tusks have been removed from the population by poachers, so you find a overall decline in tusk weight and tusk length. As a result you get the tuskless individuals having the opportunity to multiply," Ms Abe said. Ivory poaching in the Queen Elizabeth National Park had declined as a result, she added. "There is very little poaching right now," said Ms Abe, who in her study compared the elephant population in the 1920's and 1930's with the 270-strong group now in the Queen Elizabeth Park. "There are fewer elephants to take and the tusks are not good, so it is not worth the risk to take them," she said. Tuskless elephants have also been born in Zambia, where there have been equally high levels of poaching. She added: "No one wants to foster a bad gene, but maybe this is good in a way because it will help the elephants survive poachers." Leakey to Resign Kenyan Parliamentary Seat, October 4 1998 Anthropologist Richard Leakey will resign his seat in the Kenyan parliament to begin his second stint as director of the Kenya Wildlife Service. Leakey pledged to reduce the Kenya Wildlife Service deficit, which he estimated at $8 million for last year. The United States on Wednesday pledged $2 million in funding for the service. During his previous stint as director, a post he quit in 1994, Leakey was known as a skilled international fund-raiser. Leakey is a third-generation Kenyan of British origin whose grandfather came to Kenya as a missionary in 1902. His parents, Louis B. and Mary Leakey, did pioneering research that located the origins of humanity in East Africa. Leakey replaces David Western, who was dismissed last week after a four-year term. Travelers Enjoy African Foods, October 4 1998 Thousands of poor African families are making a living by inviting tourists into their houses for traditional family dinners. From the exotic spice island of Zanzibar off Tanzania's coast to Malawi, children rush up to meet you with a bright smile and an invitation to dinner. "My mother will make you coconut rice, fish, octopus" shout the Zanzibari children, name-dropping the dishes like expert fishermen. And sure enough, if you take the bait and meet a child at 7pm under a certain coconut tree, he'll lead you to his mud house decorated with washed-up seashells and seat you in a tiny living room lit up with candles. Set on the rickety coffee table, in an array of plastic and tin plates and bowls is a gastronomical delight of fresh octopus in a tomato sauce, aromatic coconut rice and local spice tea. At a cost of less than US $2 a person, the meal is more than enough to eat and the much needed money goes directly into the family's pocket. Travelers visiting northern Zanzibar, a tropical paradise of dazzling white beaches and turquoise seas, are treated to giant lobster the size of a man's thigh for as little US $10! Travelers choose their own lobster from a wicker cage dragged out of the Indian Ocean and once chosen the lobster is taken to your lodge's kitchen for preparation. Later that night you will enjoy your lobster with lemon garlic sauce and coconut rice. In Malawi, locals patrol Lake Malawi’s beaches inviting sun-worshippers to traditional lakeside dinners of fresh butterfish, rice and a local spinach. If you're lucky enough, you'll sit on the beach under a full moon that glitters on the water while youngsters prepare the food on an open fire. Once again, for less than US $2 a person for an enormous serving, there's the satisfaction that the money is going to the local population. Adventure travelers may find a restaurant too formal, but there are tourists who prefer a traditional experience with the trimmings, such as the traditional lunch offered on the Spice Tour of Zanzibar. A delicious coconut-based dish and bottled water is offered to guests who sit on floor mats in an outside shelter. The meal is part of a US$10 day tour of spice farms on the island. Once again, the price is dirt-cheap considering food, transport and visits to Persian Baths and slave caves are included. Zimbabwe Parks to Upgrade Reservations, October 4 1998 Zimbabwe National Parks will spend Z$10 million (US $300,000) upgrading its computer reservation system. The Zimbabwe Department of National Parks is also negotiating a conservation agreement with the United States. US experts will be contracted to provide strategic planning for eco-tourism development and to assist in wildlife projects. Southern Africa's first "Peace Park", October 4 1998 Tourists will be able to wander freely between South Africa and Botswana without passports following the establishment of Southern Africa's first "Peace Park" - conservation areas straddling international borders. South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and Botswana's Gemsbok National Park will link to form the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Kruger National Park Denies Lions are Dying of TB, October 4 1998 The Kruger National Park has denied reports that its lion population would be wiped out by bovine tuberculosis. "There are some lions infected with the disease but we have not yet had a single lion dying from it," park director David Mabunda said. A widely read paper recently reported that "lions at Kruger National Park are dying of tuberculosis so widespread and severe that the entire population is at risk". Lions catch the incurable disease, to which they have no natural resistance, from infected buffalo, scientists said. It weakens and emaciates them, leading to death. "Lions are dying like flies" and every one could be dead within 10 years, stated Dr. Johan Krige, deputy director of the South Africa Department of Agriculture. Lions tested in the southern part of the 4,000-square-mile wild game park, located about four hours' drive from Johannesburg, showed an infection rate of 90 percent. Scientists said most of those would die. According to a park official there are roughly 2,000 lions in the park. Air Zimbabwe Domestic Airfare's Increase, October 11 1998 Air Zimbabwe domestic airfares will increase by 25% due to depreciation of the Zimbabwe Dollar. The fare increase is effective from 12 October 1998 for all tickets issued on or after that date. Botswana Receives US Funds for Ecotourism, October 11 1998 Botswana's tourism industry recently received US $4 million from the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to develop a ecotourism project in the unique inland Okavango River delta. The Okavango, Botswana's number one tourist attraction, is the only inland river delta in Africa, and it offers unparalleled game viewing as well as sport fishing. As the area is ecologically fragile the number of tourists are limited under a government tourist policy that encourages small visitor groups that pay more for the experience. Urgent Action Needed to Save Africa's Medicinal Wildlife Resources, October 11 1998 Many wild plants and animals valued in medicines are becoming increasingly scarce in east and southern African countries, according to a new study released recently by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring program of WWF and IUCN. The study, published in the report "Searching for a Cure: Conservation of Medicinal Wildlife Resources in East and Southern Africa", identified a 102 medicinal plant species and 29 medicinal animal species as priorities for conservation and management action. The species range from well known endangered green turtle and black rhinoceros to others regarded as widespread and common, such as the majestic baobab tree. "We're calling for immediate action," said Nina Marshall, TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa's senior program officer based in Nairobi and the author of the new report. "Failure to stabilize the status of these plants and animals would negatively affect not only the environment but also the health of millions of people in this region." The conservation of medicinal wildlife resources in east and southern Africa will require conservation, management, awareness, regulation and research initiatives by a range of institutions. The report includes a variety of recommendations, including actions for specific species; increased collaboration with traditional healers' associations to promote propagation of medicinal plants, and public awareness activities aimed at regulatory agencies in the region. Kenya’s President "kills two birds with one stone" by Giving Leakey Wildlife Job, October 11 1998 Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi is "killing two birds with one stone" by offering his rival Richard Leakey his old job as director of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). With one stroke the Kenyan president silences an annoying political gadfly and wins perhaps his best chance of reviving his country's ailing wildlife dependent tourism industry. The white Kenyan conservation guru and voluble political opponent who was re-appointed to his old job as director of the KWS by Moi last week faces a catch 22 situation. Either accept the job or keep his seat as a nominated opposition member of parliament. But not both. The Kenyan constitution bars an MP from running a publicly accountable organization. Leakey (54) takes over KWS when it is suffering from serious financial problems. It has suffered from dwindling tourism over the past two years, coupled with virtual freeze of funds from donors. It has had to resort to selling off some of its properties and retrenching staff. Leakey is an avid fund-raiser, though, and it is hoped that his return will attract funds. Top Conservationists Laud Sale of Young Elephants, October 11 1998 Amid international protest regarding the sale of 30 Botswanan elephant to a South African animal trainer, three of South Africa's leading conservation organizations have come out in support of the operation. The World Wide Fund for Nature (South Africa), the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) said the removal of the young African elephants from Botswana's Tuli Block to Riccardo Ghiaza's African Game Services at Hartbeespoort was "wise". In a joint statement, the conservation organizations said the owners of private game reserves in Botswana from which the elephants were removed did not act irresponsibly. "They acted wisely, by the only means currently available to them in the country (Botswana) to reduce elephant numbers in the area." The conservationists maintain the removal of the young elephants from Botswana's Tuli Block is "part of a planned population reduction program". "The northern Tuli Game Reserve is grossly overpopulated - about 1,000 animals in an area which it is estimated can only safely hold about 300. The reserve is privately owned and receives no state subsidy for its management. The sale of the 30 young elephants to a professional animal trainer (Mr. Ghiaza) has been carefully evaluated by the reserve's management team. The conservationists applauded "the private reserve owners for tackling the elephant overpopulation problem by the only means available to them before damage to habitat in this important wildlife area becomes totally irreversible". Under Botswana law owners are not allowed to reduce the elephant population by culling. The young elephants are being trained by Indonesian mahouts for sale to operations where they will be used for elephant-back safaris. Namibia Attracts More Tourists, October 11 1998 Tourism is one of Namibia's fastest growing industries with tourist arrivals increasing by almost 9 percent in 1997, from 461,310 in 1996 to 502,012 in 1997. Tourists from European countries more than doubled in the four years from 1993 to 1997, the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism has said. Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow Claim, October 18 1998 A former Zimbabwe National Parks Department game ranger is locked in a struggle for compensation for the loss of all his hair, which he claims was caused by a python trying to swallow him. Stanford Chambe says he was taking a nap while on duty in the Lake McIlwaine National Park just outside Harare in 1976 when a python coiled around him and began to swallow him, head first. Mr. Chambe extricated himself from the python, and said that three weeks after the incident, he started losing his hair and became shortsighted. The process continued until he lost all his body hair. Mr. Chambe claimed the snake's saliva had caused his hair loss, as well as his shortsightedness. A National Parks official conceded Mr. Chambe had been attacked by a python, but said he would have to prove its saliva had caused his baldness. A medical report confirmed he was a victim of alopecia - total hair loss - but disputed that it or Mr. Chambe's shortsightedness could have been caused by the python. "I've never heard such junk in all my life," said Herpetological Society chairman Steve Durrant. Tourists Breaking Rules in Kruger Park to be Fined or Jailed, October 18 1998 Tourists caught breaking the speed limit in the Kruger National Park, littering or feeding the animals face fines of up to R1,500 (US $260) or a jail sentence, warned Park spokesperson, Sue McDonald. She said the Park’s management was fed up with regular visitors who drove recklessly, got out of their cars in the bush and threatened the lives of both people and animals. "Whilst we believe in a tourist friendly environment, we are conscious of not undermining the safety of people and animals," she explained. She said management had instructed traffic officers, game wardens and plain-clothed security officials to be on the look out for offenders and make arrests. "Reckless behavior endangers the animals and has a negative impact on the environment and other visitor’s enjoyment of the wilderness qualities that the Kruger National Park offers," she said. Extra Flights to Harare and Cape Town, October 18 1998 Comair will fly a daily service between Johannesburg and Harare from October 26, 1998 (the airline currently operates three flights a week). An extra two flights a day will also be added to the Johannesburg / Cape Town route. Zimbabwe Sun Invests in Zambia and Mozambique, October 18 1998 Zimbabwe's largest hotel group plans to build new safari lodges in Zambia and Mozambique over the coming three years. Zimbabwe Sun group managing director John Smith told a news conference that the lodges were part of a long term expansion program. "We are looking at investing at least US $3.7 million in the first phase, which will take us two to three years. We believe in years to come tourists will mainly be coming to southern Africa to see a well managed wildlife product and we are gearing our investments to cater for that," he said. Smith said Zimbabwe Sun, which runs 22 hotels and 12 safari Lodges in Zimbabwe, had created a subsidiary company, Safari Lodges of Africa, to spearhead lodge development in Zimbabwe and abroad. "Our first projects will be in Zambia and Mozambique," he said, adding that the company had secured construction sites in Zambia's Luangwa and Kafue national parks and Victoria Falls, and in Mozambique's Vilankulos, on the Indian Ocean coast. Botswana Government Threatens Bushmen, October 25 1998 The Botswana government is threatening to cut off essential water supplies to Bushmen living inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) reserve, in its increasingly desperate bid to force the Bushmen from their land. The Bushmen have come to depend on the water to see them through the harsh dry season. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve was set up in the 1960s as a haven for the 'Bushmen' people. Since 1986 the Botswanan government has been trying to force the Bushmen from their lands to make way for wildlife and tourism ventures. Last year around 600 were cleared out of the CKGR. Around 400 still remain. Roy Sesana, Chairman of the Botswanan Bushmen campaigning organization - First People of the Kalahari, said, "The government of Botswana is destroying our culture and forcing us from our ancestral land." For further information you may wish to contact "Survival". Survival is a worldwide organization supporting tribal peoples. It stands for their right to decide their own future and helps them protect their lives, lands and human rights. Survival may be reached by email at survival@gn.apc.org or on the web at http://www.survival.org.uk Northern Zanzibar Development to Harm People / Environment, October 25 1998 Tanzanian environmentalists have warned that a planned $4.5 billion tourism resort development in northern Zanzibar will displace the island's residents and destroy its surroundings. Developers envision several hotels, an airport, a race horse course, a golf course, a university and an aquarium transforming the 56-square- kilometer peninsula into one of the world's biggest resorts. An official of the Dar es Salaam based Media Environmental Group in Tanzania (JET) argues that "the plan will displace 20,000 people and affect the peninsula’s environment. All residents in Nungwi village will be moved to new places, leaving behind their farmlands and fishing industry". Zanzibar, known for its cloves and spices, has attracted a flood of investors seeking to build hotels along its idyllic beaches. Kenya Bookings Still Low, October 25 1998 Tourist bookings to Kenya for the next four months are below 30% despite claims that promotional campaigns are bearing fruit, an industry official says. The Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers Malindi branch chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Halake, said claims that marketing by the Kenya Tourism Board had boosted bookings were misleading. "Records indicate bookings are disappointing, below 30%," said Mr. Halake. The official stated that Kenya needed to completely change its polices on tourism and listen to experts if the country was to regain its reputation as a leading holiday destination. Return to Weekly Update Archive |
