The Bloodied Hands of Zimbabwean Poachers

       A massacre of over 100 Zimbabwean elephants by poisoning occurred in 2013 (Cruise). The death of a beloved lion named Cecil in 2015 sparked international outrage. 60% of the rhino population in Zimbabwe was killed between 2003 and 2005 (Greenberg). These diverse, important animals’ populations are slipping, and their deaths are evidence of the serious poaching crisis in Zimbabwe.
       The responses to the poaching problem in the past few decades have varied. In 1990, an international ivory trade ban went into effect. During the debate leading to the ban, Zimbabwe, alongside South Africa, strongly opposed, stating their elephant population was “well-managed” (Greenberg). The countries wanted the revenue from ivory sales, and today, continue to push for ivory trade. Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, impeached in 2017, strongly advocated for the legality of ivory sales. Additionally, US President Donald Trump lifted an ivory ban imports from Zimbabwe on November 16, 2017 (Bale). Looking only at past actions of countries like these would not suggest a promising future for Zimbabwean animals.
       The country’s poaching issue is most visible in the consistent massacres of elephants, often in the Hwange National Park. In 2013, over 100 elephants were killed there through the poisoning of a watering hole (Cruise). Suspect Tony Maphosa placed cyanide capsules, a common means of elephant poaching (Mortimer). In June of 2017, ten more elephants were found poisoned in this way at the same park (Mortimer). Zimbabwe is home to around 80,000 elephants, a species that attracts both tourists and poachers (Greenberg). The elephant hunting industry generates $14 million a year, and elephant tusks can sell for $16,000 on the black market (Greenberg). However, they often sell for just £250 ($348), which can inspire impoverished locals to kill (Cruise). Ivory finds its success primarily in China, where it is carved into trinkets and used medicinally, though its popularity is growing in Vietnam as well. Besides elephants, rhinoceroses are hunted for their horns, also popular in China. The World Wildlife Fund estimated 60% of the rhino population in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo was killed between 2003 and 2005 (Greenberg).
       Despite the lack of a significant response from Zimbabwe and some countries known as major ivory consumers, there has been some action taken against poaching. In December of 2017, China’s “legal, government sanctioned ivory trade [came to] a close” (Bale). Ph.D. student in conservation biology and cultural anthropology Gao Yufang even stated, “...it has been observed that in China prices of ivory products have dropped considerably, and the market is already shrinking” (Bale). This ban gained the support of conservation group World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who called it “a historic announcement” (Bale). Additionally, the non-profit Bumi Hills Foundation has an Anti-Poaching unit, which guards the Sebungwe region from potential poachers. Members of the unit are armed, and watch the area with drones and by foot (Deutsche). Another foundation, the International Rhino Foundation, works against poaching by providing training for similar anti-poaching patrols, monitoring rhino populations, and raising money for rhino conservation.
       Poaching continues to remain a major issue in Zimbabwe. An estimated 30,000 elephants are killed each year by poachers, and ivory sales have not ended entirely (Bale). Still, the anti-poaching efforts of groups in and outside of the country have made an impact. The black rhino population has been growing annually between 5 and 10% over the last 4 years, according to the International Rhino Foundation (Zimbabwe), and China’s ban won’t be forgotten. It is efforts like these that will help address and end the poaching crisis, especially if from the country itself. Without action from Zimbabwe, the poaching problem may never cease.

Works Cited

Bale, Rachael. “China Shuts Down Its Legal Ivory Trade.” National Geographic, National 
       Geographic Society, 30 Dec. 2017, news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/wildlife-
       watch-china-ivory-ban-goes-into-effect/.
Cruise, Adam. “Ten More Elephants Poisoned by Poachers in Zimbabwe.” The Guardian, 
       Guardian News and Media, 20 June 2017, 
       www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/20/ten-more-elephants-poisoned-by-
       poachers-in-zimbabwe.
Deutsche Welle. “Risky Business: On the Trail of Poachers in Zimbabwe.” DW.COM, 
       Deutsche Welle, 4 Nov. 2017, www.dw.com/en/risky-business-on-the-trail-of-poachers-
       in-zimbabwe/a-38377807.
Greenberg, Alissa. “This Is How Many Animals Were Killed in Zimbabwe in the Last 20 
       Years.” Time, Time, 30 July 2015, time.com/3978116/zimbabwe-cecil-the-lion-poaching-
        hunting-wildlife-walter-palmer/.
Mortimer, Caroline. “Zimbabwean Poacher Arrested after Four Years on the Run for 'Killing 
       More than 100 Elephants'.” Independent, Independent, 25 July 2017, 15:45, 
       www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/poacher-zimbabwe-kill-100-elephants-arrest-
       four-years-run-tony-maphosa-ivory-tusks-tshotsho-poison-a7859421.html.
“Zimbabwe Lowveld Rhino Program.” International Rhino Foundation, International Rhino 
       Foundation, rhinos.org/where-we-work/zimbabwe-lowveld-rhino-program/.