A GRUESOME discovery of a baby elephant's carcass with a wire snare around its neck has sparked outrage among conservationists operating in Lake Kariba's fishing camps.
The tragic incident occurred near Nyakatanda fishing camp, prompting urgent calls for authorities to crack down on illegal activities in the area.
Conservationists sounded the alarm over the rising use of wire snares to poach smaller animals, in addition to the ongoing problem of illegal fishing.
Nyakatanda camp has been singled out as a hotspot for illicit activities, with numerous individuals allegedly operating without permits.
The camp's proximity to the lake's shoreline makes it an ideal location for poachers to lay snares, targeting unsuspecting wildlife that ventures too close to the water's edge.
Kariba Animal Welfare Trust Fund spokesperson, Debbie Ottiman, expressed concern over the poaching incident.
“The current legislation on snaring is woefully inadequate and demands urgent revision.
“Those caught with snares should face the same severe penalties as those caught with firearms, as both methods result in equally devastating consequences for wildlife,” Ottiman said.
“Furthermore, the sentences for snare poaching should be reviewed and strengthened to serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.
“By taking a tougher stance on snaring, we can effectively combat this insidious form of poaching and protect our precious wildlife heritage.”
The killing of the baby elephant has renewed demands for enhanced enforcement and policing at Lake Kariba's fishing camps.
This echoes a 2017 appeal for increased police presence to combat illegal gillnet fishing, which continues to plague locations such as Msampa, Chalala, Sibilobilo, Nyakatanda, and Makuyu.
Zimbabwe has lost close to US$8 million since 2019 as over 420 Big Five animals have been killed by poachers from 2019 to date, according to available statistics.
According to ZimParks, since 2019, they have recorded 111 shoot-outs with poachers; at least 4 000 suspects were arrested and 22 were shot dead during the same period.
Among the arrested 4 000 over 150 were foreigners.
Zimbabwe has been fighting poaching for years and according to ZimParks the situation has improved ever since they adopted a shoot-to-kill policy.
