News / National
Elephants cause havoc in Gwanda
02 Jul 2017 at 11:22hrs | Views
A SOUTH Africa-based company working in the Hwange National Park in anti-poaching operations together with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) has shown interest in helping Gwanda farmers ward off marauding elephants using drones.
Herds of elephants have invaded Gwanda resettlement areas where they are causing problems for villagers.
The company, UDS, which is working together with Air Shepherds - a drone company, and the world's largest wildlife organisation, World Wildlife Fund is working in the Hwange National Park which also houses the Presidential Herd to protect elephants from poachers.
Before coming to Zimbabwe to partner Zimparks the company had a successful stint in Malawi where it was involved in managing human-animal conflicts. Speaking to Sunday News last week, an official from UDS, Mr Quin Clark said they wanted to expand their operations in the country to involve human-animal conflicts management working together with Zimparks and were keen to help Gwanda farmers.
"We want to expand our operations into managing human-animal conflicts working together with Zimparks. We have been in partnership with the authority in the Hwange National Park doing anti- poaching operations. When we heard the problem of elephants in Gwanda we thought we could help to drive them away using drones. This kind of operation is safe for both the elephants and farmers," said Mr Clark.
He said his company has experience in human-animal conflicts management as they carried similar exercises in Malawi in 2015 and 2016.
A huge number of herds of elephants said to be coming from neighbouring Botswana invaded Gwanda in the past two weeks, in Johnsley, Enyoni, Riyatha, Essexville and Crystical Springs resettlements area. This has prompted the Gwanda Rural District Council and Zimparks to send a reaction team to drive away the marauding elephants from the areas.
Herds of elephants have invaded Gwanda resettlement areas where they are causing problems for villagers.
The company, UDS, which is working together with Air Shepherds - a drone company, and the world's largest wildlife organisation, World Wildlife Fund is working in the Hwange National Park which also houses the Presidential Herd to protect elephants from poachers.
"We want to expand our operations into managing human-animal conflicts working together with Zimparks. We have been in partnership with the authority in the Hwange National Park doing anti- poaching operations. When we heard the problem of elephants in Gwanda we thought we could help to drive them away using drones. This kind of operation is safe for both the elephants and farmers," said Mr Clark.
He said his company has experience in human-animal conflicts management as they carried similar exercises in Malawi in 2015 and 2016.
A huge number of herds of elephants said to be coming from neighbouring Botswana invaded Gwanda in the past two weeks, in Johnsley, Enyoni, Riyatha, Essexville and Crystical Springs resettlements area. This has prompted the Gwanda Rural District Council and Zimparks to send a reaction team to drive away the marauding elephants from the areas.
Source - sundaynews
