Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Zambian President is Considering Stopping the Hippo Hunt



What we want His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu to say to DG of DNPW, Paul Zyambo.

On 8 July 2016 the President of Zambia, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu was seriously questioning the Hippo *'cull' - but word is he was being resisted by The Director General of Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Mr Paul Zyambo.

The coalition behind Hippo Whistler decided to send 700 signatures of the petition (to date 8 July) to The President. It was simultaneously delivered to both the DG of DNPW and the Minister for Tourism and copied into the President's email to assist him to make up his mind. 

No response has been received to date.


----email text----

The Hon. Jean Kapata
Minister of Tourism and Arts
National Assembly of Zambia,
Parliament Buildings,
Lusaka
(By email)

Mr Paul Zyambo
The Director General
Department of National Parks and Wildlife
Central Regional Office
P.O. Box 67044
Mazabuka, Zambia

CC: His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu
President of Zambia
State House
PO Box 30135
Lusaka
Zambia

Dear Hon. Minister Jean Kapata,

Please find attached 700 signatures of concerned National and International citizens calling on your office and the Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to permanently cease the so called 'cull' currently under review in the Luangwa Valley.

We the undersigned, (see Attachment 1), call on The Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Jean Kapata and the Director General of DNPW, Zambia Mr Paul Zyambo to permanently stop the hippo hunting (cull) in the Luangwa Valley.

Delivered this day, Friday 8 June 2016, via email.


Yours faithfully,

Hippo Whistler
for the 700 signatories.


The email

AVAAZ PETITION

THE PETITION IS STILL COLLECTING SIGNATURES HERE PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE

*The so called 'cull' is really trophy hunting... as can be read here an exercise in selling Hippo trophy licenses to foreign hunters for monetary gain.

Original image source: http://zambiareports.com

Monday, July 4, 2016

Sitting Member of Zambia's Parliament Awarded 'Cull' contract

In breaking news, questions in regard the legitimacy of the contracts awarded to 'cull' the hippos in Zambia has come to light.



Mr Jacob (Jack) Shuma, a businessman and professional hunting outfitter in the seat of Malambo (Mfuwe area), was elected in a by-election and sworn into Zambia's government on 2nd July 2015.  [1]

The ZAWA (now DNPW) contract to 'cull' hippos in the South Luangwa area was awarded to two companies, Mabwe Adventures and Mr Jack Shuma some time in November or December 2015. [2]

If Mr Shuma MP was a sitting Member of Parliament at the time, did the Minister for Tourism or the Director General of DNPW know of his personal or private interest in the 'cull'?

The burden of proof is on The Director of DNPW, Paul Zyambo and Tourism Minister Hon. Jean Kapata to disclose, in the public interest, the procedure used to award the contract, in accordance with all relevant legislation pertaining, for a government operation to a sitting member of parliament.

Is Mabwe Adventures Zambia Limited (registration number12015013436) a properly constituted Zambian Company and is one of the principles a government employee at the time the contract was awarded?

Mabwe Adventures was registered with PACRA on 21 Day of July 2015. One of the principles, Flavian Mupemo was allegedly an employee of ZAWA at the time of the transaction. Listing in the PACRA document as a Businesswoman not a businessman as is the case in the gender of, Mr Mupemo is confirmed as having been, for a considerable period of time, a paid employee of ZAWA. [3]

Another principle of Mabwe Adventures, Mr Leon Pierre Joubert is listing on the registration document as a Zambian citizen, he is however confirmed to be a South African businessman from Gauteng, ZA. Mr Joubert is the registered owner of a South African mine. Mr Joubert appears to also have an interest in (or ownership of) other tourism operations in a number of other countries on the African continent. Of note and concern is that the required document of proof recorded on the PACRA registration is what appears to be a false Zambian citizenship document number. The number provided appears to be an unknown Country of Origin passport number.

Questions as to the legitimacy of both contracted parties, Mr Jack Shuma MP and Mabwe Adventures Zambia Limited must be answered by the Department or the Ministry for the public to have faith in the legality or legitimacy of the contracts.

______________________________
FOOTNOTES

[1] http://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/4321
[2] Registered Principles of Mabwe Adventures

-->
NELSON NG'ANDU
FLAVIAN CHISHIMBA MUPEMO
LEON PIERRE JOUBERT
[3] Any intelligence regarding Mr Mupemo's employment status from 21 July 2015 to 31st December 2015 can be sent to hippowhistler [at] gmail.com anonymity guaranteed.

Image source: http://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/4321

Born Free Media Release 4 July 2016


Zambia’s on-off hippo cull on again!


Born Free calls for independent Presidential inquiry and a permanent halt to the killing

Two thousand of Africa's increasingly rare hippo, living in the wildlife haven of Zambia’s Luangwa Valley, face the renewed threat of terror and death, following a meeting held in Lusaka on Wednesday 22nd June.

Will Travers OBE, President and CEO of Born Free Foundation, stated: “Leaving aside the moral and ethical arguments and Born Free's consistent opposition to culling, we are asking for urgent clarification on a number of key issues and the publication of all scientific evidence that might support such drastic measures.”

International and Zambian opposition to the cull has been widely reported in the media.

A temporary suspension of the cull, announced on 14th June, was, according to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), to allow for “extensive consultation”. However, following the brief meeting in Lusaka on Wednesday 22nd June it now appears the hiatus is over and the cull is set to resume.

This “invitation only” meeting was called by Stephen Mwansa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism & Arts, and Paul Zyambo, Director of DNPW. The company contracted by DNPW to carry out the cull, Mabwe Adventures, was in attendance, along with only one local stakeholder, the Luangwa Safari Association - representing safari camps and lodges in South Luangwa National Park.

Information from Zambia indicates that DNPW is now poised to push ahead with the cull of 2,000 hippos over five years using paying trophy hunters, as was recently promoted on Theo De Marillac Safaris’ website.

Why this decision has been taken, and on what basis, remains shrouded in secrecy. In light of this, Born Free Foundation wrote to the President of Zambia, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on 27th June, requesting the cull be abandoned and that key information pertaining to DNPW’s justifications for the cull to be made publically available. To date, no response has been forthcoming.

Born Free Foundation, together with other wildlife conservation and animal protection organisations, believe that five critical issues still need to be addressed:

1.    DNPW has, to date, failed to provide robust, scientific evidence demonstrating that there is an overpopulation of hippos in the Luangwa River, or to make public the Government of the Republic of Zambia report that they have cited in their justification
2.    DNPW has failed to provide robust, scientific evidence clearly demonstrating that previous hippo culls in the Luangwa Valley have been successful in reducing the population over the long-term and that the culling methodology that has been proposed - targeting whole pods of hippos in the water - is humane
3.    DNPW has failed to provide rainfall and river level data showing that river levels and water flow in the Luangwa River are abnormally low and cannot sustain the current hippo population
4.    DNPW has failed to provide credible, scientific evidence to show that such an indiscriminate hippo cull would prevent a future outbreak of anthrax - not prevent the spread of an existing outbreak - as there isn't one
5.    DNPW has failed to provide categorical evidence that an approved and transparent tendering process took place in awarding the culling contract to Mabwe Adventures, of which an ex-Zambia Wildlife Authority employee, Flavian Mupemo, is a shareholder and beneficiary.

Given the highly contentious nature of culling; the unanswered questions raised above; the possible conflict of interest; and the concerns about the lack of transparency of the tendering process, Born Free Foundation is calling for the planned cull to be abandoned and for the matter to be investigated at the highest possible level by an independent inquiry, established under the auspices of The Office of The President.

Travers added: “The longer these vitally important issues go unanswered, the more the authorities come up with different and, as yet, unsubstantiated justifications for the cull, the more Zambia - one of Africa's great wildlife strongholds - will suffer lasting reputational and potentially economic damage. The independent inquiry, called for by Born Free, seems to me the only way to establish the truth and determine whether any of the claimed justifications for the cull - a measure which could see 2,000 wild hippo lose their lives - can withstand the scrutiny they deserve.”

ENDS

               
FOR ALL PRESS ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT BORN FREE'S PR DEPARTMENT:

Shirley Galligan, PR Director T: 0207 792 9668 M: 07773 848352
Beth Brooks, Press Officer T: 01403 246903 M: 07544 209256
Victoria Lockwood, PR Officer T: 01403 240170 M: 07814 284756
____________________________________________________
               
Notes to Editors:


 

About Born Free


The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase-out zoos. We rescue animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care.

Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles and many more species in their natural habitat, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Our high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. For more information about Born Free please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk



               
               


 

Sunday, June 19, 2016

News from the River Horse's Mouth

A RIVER RUNS RED
Byline: Hermione River-Horse,  from the River Express. 

19 June - Dry Season, Zambia

 

Hermione River-Horse is an African correspondent covering issues affecting her species, the environment and the African continent for the River Express. She is a Gold Watermark winning journalist.*


 ________________________

Here on the banks of the Luangwa River a tragedy is unfolding, in the past few weeks at least 6 hippos have been shot, skinned and butchered [1].  We took to the sand bars to ask the affected Hippos how the killing is impacting their community.

It’s 5 am and the air and river is cool. The river’s levels are lowish, but nothing out of the ordinary, similar to other seasons at the same time of year. I have come out to interview the hippos in the South Luangwa National Park (SLNP), but these incidents that have so impacted their family are to be repeated in multiple locations along the Luangwa River in the Luangwa Valley as well as here in South Luangwa, also at Luambe NP and North Luangwa NP.  Reportedly up to 2000 hippos will lose their lives in the killing seasons.

The scene appears peaceful, but as I approach the pod of hippos I can hear their levels of concern. Many have just returned from the night shift. The rumbles and snorts louder than usual, they are upset and stressed. No-one wants to be seen on camera. Names have been changed to protect identity.

*This is the transcript and description of those interviews.  


[READ MORE]

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Born Free Foundation Media Release - 15th June 2016


For Immediate Release 15th June 2016

 

Zambia’s hippos safe – for now

Decision to suspend cull follows high-profile campaign led by Born Free

International wildlife charity, Born Free Foundation, has welcomed the Zambian authorities’ decision to suspend a highly controversial cull of 400 hippopotamuses a year over the next five years in the Luangwa River Valley, following a high-profile campaign led by Born Free and supported by international experts and Zambian nationals.

According to an official statement from the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) the cull, which started last month, was being suspended to allow for further consultation with stakeholders. Born Free will continue to closely monitor events.

Born Free President and Co-Founder, Will Travers OBE, stated: “Leaving aside the ethical dimension – whether it is morally acceptable to kill hundreds of healthy animals to prevent a possible future outbreak of a disease – other important questions remain to be answered. Is there an overpopulation of hippo and on what is this evaluation based? Is culling an effective anthrax control strategy and, again, where is the evidence?”

There has been widespread shock and outrage on social media since news of the cull was reported last week by Born Free. The distressing news made headlines across the world and may have prompted the decision of the authorities to suspend the cull.

Though the cull was reportedly sanctioned by DNPW as a ‘wildlife management tool’ to prevent the possible future spread of anthrax among wild animals (although, for the first time, the DNPW is now claiming low river levels as a justification), the killing was opened up to non-Zambian trophy hunters. A five-year hunting contract had been awarded to Mabwe Safaris, and was being marketed by a South African hunting company called De Marillac Safaris.

Travers added: “I sincerely hope that, on reflection, the DNPW will decide to permanently abandon plans for a cull. Were they to recommence the killing, without doubt there would be members of the safari-going public who would decide to spend their money elsewhere to view Africa’s magnificent wildlife legacy.”

ENDS
 ___________________

FOR ALL PRESS ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT BORN FREE'S PR DEPARTMENT:

Shirley Galligan, PR Director T: 0207 792 9668 M: 07773 848352
Beth Brooks, Press Officer T: 01403 246903 M: 07544 209256
Victoria Lockwood, PR Officer T: 01403 240170 M: 07814 284756
 ____________________

Notes to Editors:

About Born Free

The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase-out zoos. We rescue animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care.

Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles and many more species in their natural habitat, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Our high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. For more information about Born Free please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk


 


Tuesday, June 14, 2016

News Flash - DNPW Suspends Cull Temporarily





The immediate and growing condemnation from a variety of sources has given the Department of National Parks & Wildlife (DNPW) pause for thought and they have issued an *information release stating they have temporarily suspended the culling operation while they "evaluate the matter and provide a way forward”.
This is a small and temporary victory for all those who have voiced their concern about 2000 Hippos being killed over the next five years in the Luangwa Vally and in maintaining this area as a pristine wilderness and wildlife area.

The department will now no doubt seek further proof and justification for its actions; but the fact remains, that to date no evidence has been provided of the environmental necessity, the ecological sustainability or the imminent alleged public health risk from anthrax (which interestingly was not mentioned in the release).

The DNPW chose to turn this activity into a money making exercise and the Department must now show that revenue raising is not the primary objective.

Hippo Whistler urges all interested parties to continue to lobby the decision makers to put a permanent stop to these unjustifiable killings.

_________________

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Sign This
AVAAZ petition here: https://goo.gl/A0TWEx

 
Share This
To your Facebook page or send by email to your networks.



URGENT PETITION FOR THE HIPPOS (South Luangwa)
Please sign and share widely.

We call on the Director of DNPW,  Paul Zyambo & Tourism Minister Hon. Jean Kapata to
Stop the Hippo Hunting (Cull) in South Luangwa, Zambia.

Concerned people all over the world have already noted their outrage and concern for the 2000 hippos whose lives have been sold to Trophy Hunters by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Zambia.

Now we take action! Please help.
Sign, share, tweet!
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/To_The_Director_of_DNPW_Paul_Zyambo_Tourism_Minister_Hon_Jean_Kapata_Stop_the_Hippo_Hunting_Cull_in_South_Luangwa_Zambia/?csOzQkb.
#stopthecull #hipposofluangwa #zambiahippos

___________________

Tweet This
 (105 of 140 available characters)

Help the hippos of South Luangwa. Stop the killing in the illegal ‘cull’. Sign AVAAZ petition and RT. https://goo.gl/A0TWEx


_________ 

Thank you for your continued interest and support for the Hippos. 
_________

Further Reading

If you are new to this issue - please read
Hippo Hunting in South Luangwa
and this
Media Release from Born Free Foundation
_________________________

*The release was issued 14 June 2016 by Sakabilo Kalembwe - Zacks, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Did you want Anthrax with that?



Warning: Graphic images of butchery and skin lesion
Removal of fresh hippopotamus meat from poached carcass  
[1] Illustration only. Removal of fresh hippopotamus meat from poached carcass


DNPW are saying the ‘cull’ (which is in fact ‘trophy hunting’) is to ‘control anthrax’. This appears to be a convenient excuse to raise some revenue. They can’t have it both ways can they? 

Anthrax control v's Meat Sales...

[2] Image: Fair use from
None of the hippos who have been killed and butchered are being tested for anthrax (as far as I know) and the meat taken from the hippo’s bodies are already being sold from the back of the vehicles in the local villages for a K-tenner or so, per kilo.

Do the people buying the meat know that anthrax is a concern of DNPW or that the so called reason hippos are being killed is to ‘stop the spread of anthrax’.


The Director of DNPW, Paul Zyambo must be upfront about what this whole operation is all about. It is not good enough to call the operation an Health Issue and then potentially put people's lives at risk. It is not good enough to generate revenue from Trophy Hunting calling it a cull and selling the hippo's flesh from the back of vehicles.

Mr Zyambo cannot have it both ways. Either the hippos have anthrax and need to be 'culled' for safety reasons, therefore their meat cannot be sold and eaten without risking human lives, or they do not have anthrax and are being killed purely for revenue raising in a deal with a foreign trophy hunter.

If anthrax is (really) a concern why would the DNPW allow the the sale of the meat out of the back of the meat processor’s trucks to local people?

If this is an exercise in anthrax control, why doesn’t the DNPW burn the carcasses?


PS:  If you know these men, please, keep a close eye on the skin of the Hippo butchers (pictured above) and anyone else who has handled or carried the Hippo’s flesh because if there is anthrax then lesions can appear on the skin called Cutaneous Anthrax Lesions.

[3] Image: Cutaneous Anthrax Lesion 
*Humans and animals can ingest anthrax from carcasses of dead animals that are infected with Anthrax. In 2011 in Chama in eastern Zambia – 500 people got sick and 5 died after eating anthrax contaminated hippos. Handling or eating anthrax infected hippo meat can cause illness.

*http://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/news-multimedia/features/hungry_hippos [dot] html

_________________________

Note Image Sources - Fair Use
1. Arkive
ARKive photo - Removal of fresh hippopotamus meat from poached carcass
Image credit  © Bruce Davidson / naturepl.com
 
2. 


3. 













http://latest.com/2015/05/military-accidentally-ships-live-anthrax-to-nine-states-yours/