Wildlife conservation efforts are under threat with vital funding for the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU) being slashed as the economic impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic worsens, prompting a heartfelt plea for support by Head of Operations Charles Brightman.
VFAPU is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and the natural resources within a 50km radius of Victoria Falls, with 17 scouts patrolling seven days a week. The unit works closely with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Up unitl now, it has arrested 794 serious poachers, removed more than 22 500 wire snares, and nursed 260 animals injured by those snares back to health before releasing them back into the wild.
Last year alone, during joint operations VFAPU scouts helped with the rescue of seven injured buffalo, an elephant, a lion, two spotted hyena, four warthog, a waterbuck and an impala from wire snares, darting and treating the animals before returning them to the wild.
In 2019, the unit managed to removed 121 snares, apprehended two mammal poachers and 206 wood poachers. Unfortunately they also came across 15 mammals poached – five impala, four warthog, a buffalo, two zebra, two waterbuck and a duiker.
‘Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and without taking away from the sad and tragic humanitarian crisis taking place globally, we here at VFAPU are facing a crisis of our own in terms of our ability to continue with our on-the-ground efforts to support our National Parks and Wildlife Authority in the protection and conservation of the wildlife in Victoria Falls and the surrounding areas,’ Brightman says.
‘Sadly, due to the ongoing economic impact of COVID-19, a large portion of our funding which enabled us to employ our VFAPU scouts, providing them with livelihoods, whilst also providing us with the logistical means to carry out our anti-poaching patrols, has unfortunately had to be cut back, or, in some cases, closed off completely.’
‘Every little bit helps us support the wildlife and habitats in the Victoria Falls region. We must protect our wildlife for our future.The wildlife needs your support!’
To learn more, get involved or donate, click here.
Image: Pixabay
