CONSERVATION NEWS
May Ride 2024 & New Friends!
On May 18th, Nsefu Wildlife attended the 22nd Annual May Ride at Biggs Harley-Davidson in San Marcos, California. The event is in support of Military Heroes and their families.
This was a great event and we're so happy to have met and connected with so many wonderful people.
While at the event, we met the members of The Combatant Craft Crewman Association (CCCA), which is dedicated to preserving the history and honoring the brotherhood through their Casualty Assistance Program, Educational Endeavors, and Community Involvement. The Combatant Craft Crewman Association (CCCA) and its national host of volunteers have provided support services to assist veterans and their families in their time of need since 2013.
Through our conversations with the group and their Vice President of Marketing/Shipstore, Mike Sigsworth, they decided to donate $500 to our cause as well as donated 3 used laptops and 1 used Chromebook for our school program.
We are so lucky to have met them and grateful for their donations.
Learn more about The Combatant Craft Crewman Association (CCCA), visit: http://combatantcraftcrewman.org/
We’d also like to thank Pulltarps® Mfg. for their donation of bags made of tarps material to help protect the donated electronic devices.
Elephant Killed by Poachers
Sub-Adult Killed by Poachers
On April 22, 2024, an elephant was poached in the Upper Lupande Game Management Area in Zambia.
The poached elephant was a sub adult and was discovered with its tusk intact. The carcass was found near a watering hole, indicating the elephant was targeted while vulnerable.
Traces of poachers were found at the scene, including gunpowder, as well as tracks leading away from site.
The Principal Park Rangers from DNPW and other law enforcement authorities were immediately notified of the incident.
A specialized combined investigation team has been dispatched to gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
The carcass has been taken to the DNPW for the further examinations.
Ranger Killed in the Line of Duty!
On April 4, 2024, Community Ranger (Scout) Boniface Mposha, from the Mphuka Community Resources Board was attached and axed to death by poachers in the Rufunsa Disrict, Luangwa Game Management Area. The poachers got away with the Ranger's loaded AK-47 and are currently on the run.
The Ranger was 33 when he was attacked and was a dedicated and committed Ranger employed by Mphuka Community Resources Board! His death has had a profound impact on his family, colleagues, and the broader conservation community.
In light of this tragic event, it is imperative to strengthen our efforts to protect wildlife and our Rangers from poaching-related threats. This includes enhancing security measures, providing adequate training and equipment to Rangers and, providing 4x4 vehicles and implementing stricter penalties for poachers.
The brutal murder of Boniface Mposha serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by our Rangers who dedicate their lives to protecting wildlife. It underscores the urgent need for greater collaboration, resources, and determination in the fight against illegal poaching activities.
As we mourn the loss of the gallant Ranger, let us renew our commitment to safeguarding our natural heritage for future generations!
From the Field: Another Gun turned in!
Back in April, 2024, the Ranger Team received a homemade shotgun from a young man who voluntarily surrendered it to us after spending much of his youth as a poacher.
He made his decision clear to the team, that after self introspection, he felt he could no longer go on killing innocent animals and was influenced by Nsefu Wildlife's conservation activities in the sector, which includes updated infrastructure, new schools, conservation and community awareness.
The shotgun, valued at 1,000 Kwacha, which is about 37 dollars, still smelled of gun powder when handed over.
Q1 2024: Human Wildlife Conflict meeting
The HWC meeting was centered on what CRBs, Organizations and DNPW are doing to mitigate the impact of HWC (Human Wildlife Conflict) in areas of operations.
Nsefu Wildlife's report was largely based on our beehive fences and also some lessons being delivered in school about conservation. We explained how we intend to up scale the bee fences to a stretch of 1.5km this as a way of reducing on the number of HWC cases.
What is critical to note is that these meetings are quarterly and any report has to be around all activities which have happened in the last three months.
We also talked about the boreholes we sunk so that natural water points should be left for the animals.
What was resolved:
Each organization or stakeholders to start community sensitisation meetings.
Each stakeholder to use power point kind of reporting.
Put up a team under HWC for effective response towards HWC.
Reports based on facts.
It was a good meeting and we learned a lot .
The next meeting takes place in June 2024.