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Elephants captured by Zimbabwe game lodge to be removed and released back into wild after cruelty allegations

03/11/2009 06:54:19

Injury sustained by one of the elephants during the training phase. Credit ZNSPCA

Battered and bruised - abused elephants to be rescued in Zimbabwe

November 2009. Nine cruelly abused elephants have been rescued from a commercial training facility in Zimbabwe, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has announced.

The elephants were confiscated in April after an inspection by the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA) found that cruel and torture like methods were being used to ‘tame and train' them for the elephant back safari industry - a popular tourist activity in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in southern Africa.

The wild elephants were originally caught on protected land in October 2008. In April 2009 when the ZNSPCA inspected the training facility they discovered some of the following abuses taking place:

Elephants chained on one leg and being fed from a distance requiring them to stand on three legs and strain at their chains to reach their food. This practice was intended to enforce the dominance of the handlers and caused severe wounds to the chained legs.
Restricted access to water and shade.
Varying degrees of wounds caused by training techniques and chaining.
An adult female elephant separated from her male calf causing unnecessary stress and physical suffering to both calf and mother.
Chaining for long hours preventing the elephants from socialising with each other.

The ZNSPCA asked IFAW to assist with the translocation of the elephants to a safe haven with a view to rehabilitating them and releasing them back into the wild.

One elephant has died already
IFAW Southern Africa spokesman Neil Greenwood said: "These elephants have been subjected to the most appalling cruelty, all in the name of servicing an indefensible form of safari industry. In fact 10 elephants were originally caught for training. Tragically one - a young male named Dumisani - died of malnutrition and the abuse he was subjected to. Given all of this, IFAW has assembled a top team of capture experts to translocate the remaining nine elephants to safety with the least possible stress."

Dumasani, the young bull who died from
malnutrition and injuries sustained during training.
Credit ZNSPCA

Transfer to Hwange
The elephants will be transported from a privately owned ranch in the West Nicholson area, south of Bulawayo where the elephants were being ‘trained', to Hwange National Park, some 700 kilometres (437 miles) further east.

The translocation of the elephants began on November 2 and has been mandated by the government of Zimbabwe. The elephants will be darted and transported in a single group to Hwange National Park overnight before being released into a large rehabilitation boma for monitoring prior to eventual release in the park.

Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment

The captured elephants in Zimbawe

I am utterly appalled, deeply shocked and sadened by the cruelty to the captured elephants, as described in your article.

Thank goodness for the work carried out by the ZNSPOA; I applaud you.

Posted by: Kerry Beck | 10 Nov 2009 15:04:48

Elephants captured in Zimbawe

Thank you very much for this article which shows once again that not all Elephant safaris operators are serious and equipped to be able to run such an operation.
Maybe there are some "elephant wisperers" around who could train elephants in a decent manner. At least with horses "whispering" does work. My own experience?.

Can you tell me why you do not mention any names (operator's name, people involved and responsible) ? Afraid of retaliation ? It would be good to know such details just to avoid doing "business" with them. We live next door in Zambia.
Regards

Heiner

Posted by: Heiner | 06 Nov 2009 17:59:43

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