Release Them! NSPCA plea – show Zimbabwe we care

(2006-12-28)

Release Them! NSPCA plea – show Zimbabwe we care

Wild elephants in Zimbabwe are being captured and exploited for commercial money-making purposes. On-the-scene representation from the Zimbabwe National SPCA (ZNSPCA) reports that 10 juvenile elephants, aged between 5 and 10 years old, are confined in enclosed bomas in an estimated 4 feet of their own dung. One elephant has already died.

The remaining elephants are confined in cramped 5M x 5M bomas – one boma is only 2,5M x 5M. They are bruised and traumatised – losing further condition as the days go by – they have already developed dermatitis. Efforts to facilitate their release onto the surrounding 6 000 hectare property have been met with obstruction by Shearwater Adventures who were behind the forcible removal of the juveniles from their natural herds in early November 2006.

One young elephant who escaped from this captivity onto the secured surrounding property, has successfully integrated into an existing bachelor herd of 6 elephants.

Shearwater Adventures have proven to be unwilling to assist or even co-operate with the release of the elephants. The company operates elephant-back safaris in the Victoria Falls area.

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) motivates that the elephants should be released from their confinement and horrendous conditions until such time as they are healthier and stronger. Then they should be returned to their natural herds in the Hwange area.

“They should not have been captured and removed in the first place. To say that such operations “save” animals is nonsense. This is blatant exploitation – opportunism for financial gain. Don’t be taken in.”

”As an animal welfare organisation, we are concerned about the living conditions of the elephants, how they are treated and the quality of the rest of their lives. We are talking about barbaric and exploitive practices. That there has already been one death is indicative of what we are saying.”

The Zimbabwe National SPCA gave praise and credit to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management before Christmas for its support. But as yet, no progress has been made.

The capture and removal of individual wild elephants from their natural herds is unacceptable. These are wild animals and are not being “domesticated.” They are being traumatised and brutally treated.

The NSPCA supports the Zimbabwe National SPCA morally and financially. The implications of what is happening are far-reaching. Elephants have been imported into South Africa from Zimbabwe for safari work.

An urgent appeal is made for financial assistance to assist these elephants and also to prevent any further occurrences of comparable captures and “training”.

Please show you care. Donations can be sent by cheque payable to the NSPCA to PO Box 1320, Alberton 1450. Please mark ZIMHELP on the envelope or on an accompanying note.

Direct deposits can be made into the NSPCA account: -

Standard Bank, Southdale Branch, account 201032015, code 006405

Please use the reference ZIMHELP – or advise the NSPCA of the deposit through nspca@nspca.co.za