Hi again
Herewith, some snippets from various sources.
I appeal to you to send me items to distribute to our members for the Cleft Stick, the Game Ranger magazine and to be posted on the web site. These are your magazine and website, so ensure it gets the news that you would like to see in it.
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Don Yunnie
7 Chalet Drive, Hilton, 3245, South Africa Local Tel & Fax (033) 343 1534 Int. Tel & Fax (+2733) 343 1534 cell 082 377 7562 E-mail dyunnie@xsinet.co.za.
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Capstick Hunting Heritage Award
We would like to congratulate Dr. Ian Player on being presented the Capstick Hunting Heritage Award in Dallas, Texas, this year.
Food for Thought? Planetary cancer
from World Problems - Issues Online
Disseminated primatemia
Humanity as a cancer
Humanity as a plague upon the Earth
The kind of population pressures and ecosystem destruction that humans are now wreaking upon the body of the Earth, are exactly analogous to the excessive multiplication of cells and systemic malignancy that are recognized in medicine as a cancer tumour: both are proliferative disorders characterized by uncontrolled growth; both tend to spread throughout the "body" of the organism; both exert pressure on adjacent "tissue"; both continue to grow even under extremely crowded conditions; both produce chemicals that have negative effects on remote regions of the organism; both generate new vessels to support their growth; both fail to "differentiate" in form and function. It is no exaggeration to say that humans have become a plague upon the Earth
Also
Advocating abstention from parenting, Popularizing childlessness
There are several USA-based organizations promoting reduction of population by voluntary abstention from parenting, particularly with a view to redistributing to people living now instead of hoarding material goods for unknown and uncaring future generations. Examples (1994) are These Exit Times (The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement), Portland, Oregon, Childless by Choice, Leavenworth, Washington and Childfree Network, Citrus Heights, California
The Gaia Liberation Front (also USA-based) supports all voluntary efforts to make humans extinct, but also does not exclude the involuntary routes, such as involuntary sterilization, new anti-human viruses and genocide. As a rule, however, it regards war as an inefficient way of making humans extinct -- every quarter of a million humans killed represents only one day's growth of the human population, but more importantly because conventional warfare does a lot of collateral damage to non-human life
VHEMT promotes voluntary cessation of breeding in order to allow the earth's biosphere to regain its good health. Failure to breed is presented as a caring alternative to involuntary violent extinction
Zimbabwe's elephants fair game to feed sports fans
Gavin du Venage
Zimbabwe plans to kill hundreds of elephants and turn them into biltong, a local dried meat snack usually enjoyed with a beer in front of a game of soccer or rugby, officials here have said. "It is in our plans. We plan to start this year," Zimbabwe National Parks director-general Morris Mtsambiwa was quoted as saying in the state-owned Herald newspaper. At least 500 elephants will be shot, skinned and their flesh dried and processed. Biltong is made by cutting raw flesh into thin strips, which is then heavily salted and spiced for flavour. The meat is hung to dry for about a week until it has attained a tough, leathery consistency. It is then cut into thin strips with a knife and goes especially well with beer. The dried meat snack requires no refrigeration and can last months, even years in the hot African climate without spoiling. Biltong is popular among campers and hunters, but especially among sports fans in southern Africa, where the snack is synonymous with beer, rugby, and soccer. Usually made from beef, it is occasionally produced from wild game. Zimbabwe's program to mass process elephants is, however, unique. "We have agreed on a work plan which we will start implementing this year," Dr Mtsambiwa said.
A worldwide ban in ivory trade has been in force since 1990, to help protect Africa's ravaged herds from poaching. The ban did not extend to killing elephants for meat, however, and this has allowed the Zimbabwean authorities to gradually increase the shooting of elephants without attracting international censure. Zimbabwe was, until recently, home to one of the world's largest elephant populations of close to 100,000 animals. Numbers have plummeted ever since the chaotic land reform program, which began in the late 1990s, and resulted in thousands of commercial farmers, as well as game ranchers, being evicted from their land. "If we keep on like this, within the next five years we won't have any animals left," said Johnny Rodrigues, the chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, an NGO based in the capital of Harare. "I've heard the plan is to process up to 6000 elephants for biltong. They are not going to stop at 500 animals."
Mr Rodrigues said that in Zimbabwe elephants were being killed in large numbers to provide bush meat, ivory, and even to supply food for a government-owned crocodile ranch. Mr Rodrigues said that shooting elephants under the guise of harvesting bush meat or biltong or, frequently, of declaring an animal rogue, had become common and has served as a cover for the gathering of ivory. He pointed to the case of Tusker, an ageing bull elephant who over the years had invaded Charara safari camp on the northern flank of Zimbabwe. The popular animal would occasionally raid tents for food, empty garbage cans and steal campers' breakfasts. "I've known this elephant for 40 years and he's never hurt anyone," Mr Rodrigues said. But on New Year's Eve, at a party attended by hundreds of people at a camp, youths threw fire crackers at Tusker and bumped him with their cars. Tusker fled, damaging vehicles. For this he was declared a rogue animal and was shot on January 6. We managed to get 4000 signatures on a petition to save him, but it was too late," Mr Rodrigues said.
FAREWELL TO TUSKER
a much loved old bull elephant at Charara, Lake Kariba Zimbabwe. This report came from Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force Tusker's life has been on the line for some time now but the New Year's party that was held at Charara this year was the straw that broke the camel's back. We have had reports of drugs and alcohol being abused at the party by some of the youngsters who attended. It has been confirmed that they were pulling hairs out of Tusker's tail and slapping him on the rump and running away laughing. They were driving around the camp at high speeds, flashing headlights in Tusker's eyes and hooting at him and we have also had reports of fireworks and beer bottles being thrown at him. Despite all this senseless abuse, we have had no reports of Tusker hurting anyone which is testament to his basic good nature.
His crime, which lead to his death penalty is that he damaged some cars in his search for food. It is not clear how many cars were damaged. We have had reports that the number was between 2 and 7. The authorities will probably argue that they have a responsibility to protect the humans and that it would only have been a matter of time before somebody was killed by Tusker.
Our argument is that a party of this magnitude, which is attended every year by thousands of youngsters should not be held in a National Park. This is why it is called a "game reserve" and not a "people reserve". There is a sign near the entrance of Charara camp that states "No loud music after 9pm" and "no fireworks". The proprietors of Charara camp hire the biggest music system in Zimbabwe and the music is so loud, it can be heard from 2 km away. Where were the organizers of the party when the youngsters started throwing fireworks at Tusker?
How do people bring their children up so that they behave in such a despicable manner? We would like thank all you wonderful people, from the bottom of our hearts for trying to help us to save Tusker. We had no idea he was loved so much by so many people all over the world.
LAKE NATRON UPDATE
breeding ground of the Lesser Flamingo
Despite appeals to the contrary in an attempt to preserve the breeding place of the Lesser Flamingo, The Tanzania Government, as at 10 January 2008, have declared their intention of allowing TATA to build a soda ash plant at Lake Natron.
The Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (Birdlife Partner in TZ) has secured an invitation to brief the Tanzanian Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Natural Resources on the civil society's position for the proposed development. The briefing will take place on 17th January in Dar-es-salaam. Dr. Lota Melamari (CEO WCST) is teaming up with Dr Hazell Thompson, the Head of Birdlife Africa Partnership Secretariat to deliver the presentation. We await a positive outcome to this.
http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2007/10/lake_natron_flamingos.html
TANZANIA.
Cash and cheques will no longer be accepted by Tanzania National Parks who have introduced an electronic payment system for park entrance fees. The new electronic cards for Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Kilimanjaro and Arusha National Parks are available in Arusha.
BOTSWANA’S MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE’S PROPOSAL TO RE-ERECT THE SETATA FENCE:
Points for urgent consideration, Compiled by A.Albertson (28 November 2007)
A new plan by the Ministry of Agriculture to reinstate the Setata fence across south-western Ngamiland will undermine more than a decade of progress in addressing the impacts of veterinary fencing on an increasingly important wildlife resource base.
An environmental impact study commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture has already established that fencing across this wildlife ecosystem would be environmentally, socially and economically unfeasible. By ignoring the recommendations of their own integrated study and repeating the same mistake, the Ministry of Agriculture’s new fence will cost Botswana dearly.
As with the Setata fence, large numbers of wildlife will die along this new fence. At a time when Botswana needs to expand its tourism sector to cope with the increasing demand placed on it as an “engine of economic growth” it makes little sense to pursue an ecologically disastrous course of action that will be perceived by the rest of the world as a failure by Botswana to commit to the sustainable development and wise use of its natural resources to the benefit of all stakeholders. The proposal to attain World Heritage Status for the Okavango Delta would be endangered by this new fencing plan.
This document clearly explains why the western portion of the proposed new fence is unnecessary for disease control and surveillance, the costs of constructing and maintaining this fence - and the impacts on wildlife and communities - far outweighing the perceived advantages, which are baseless.
This file is 1.22MB, (15 pages long) and It includes maps of the area – so anyone wanting a complete copy please let me know! – ed
CONVICTION IN MEDICINAL PLANT CASE
EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE, MEDIA RELEASE 2007 - 01 – 11
While investigating to a complaint that people were digging up indigenous plants on private property on 14 October 2007, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) staff came across three people loading bags onto a bakkie.
The bags were found to contain large quantities of protected and specially protected plants. The people involved did not have any collection permits, nor did they have the landowner*s permission to collect plants on that property.
Mr Dumisane Mazibuko (31) from the Loskop area who works as a security guard in Estcourt, and two assistants were arrested but charges against the two assistants were later dropped. While en route to the police station to lay charges, the EKZNW staff came across another group of people also gathering plants on a nearby property. They too did not have the required permits and Ms Elsie Mthetwa (75) a practicing *sangoma* or traditional healer from Vryheid and two assistants were also arrested. Charges against the two assistants were also dropped.
The cases were heard in the Winterton magistrate*s court on 09 January 2008.
Mr Dumisane Mazibuko was sentenced to a R20 000 fine and two years imprisonment suspended for five years, and three years correctional supervision of which he has to serve 16 hours per month for three years.
Ms Elsie Mthetwa was sentenced to R1 000 fine and six months imprisonment, as well as R20 000 and two years imprisonment all suspended for five years. She was also sentenced to18 month*s correctional supervision of which she has to serve16 hours per month for the full 18 months.
The case was investigated by the SAPS Organised Crime Unit (Midlands) and EKZNW would like to commend this unit for the excellent work they put into the investigation.
*We are very pleased with the outcome of this case as the illegal gathering protected indigenous plants is a serious problem in this province,* said EKZNW Chief Executive Officer, Mr Khulani Mkhize. *This case sends a clear message to those who gather such plants illegally that we in Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife will prosecute offenders,* he said.
*We have a strong group of community conservation officers who work amongst our local communities to educate people about the law and how to go about gathering medicinal plants legally, and even how to grow their own plants, so we will have no mercy on the illegal operators,* he added.
*Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has a role to play in conserving the natural resources of this province and we will apply our mandate,* said Mr Mkhize.
Maureen Zimu, Media Officer , e-mail- maureen@kznwildlife.com
Eco-damage threatens elephants and ants
By Roger Highfield, The Telegraph Science Editor
Last Updated: 7:01pm GMT 10/01/2008
Biologists have often complained conservation efforts are focused too much on charismatic big animals to the exclusion of vast numbers of insects, plants and other small creatures.
Now a study has shown that if elephants, giraffes and other picture-postcard animals disappear from the eastern African savanna, the ecological damage may extend, ironically, to the acacia trees they eat and cascade all the way to down to affect ants too.
The study is a cautionary tale about the rapid and unanticipated consequences of human interference and how these effects extend deeper and wider than we realise, one that will spur efforts to ensure that conservation efforts focus more on the way species interact.
The finding is a dramatic example of the web of life in which unrelated species depend directly on each other so that, in this case, four species of ants rely on the whistling thorn tree, Acacia drepanolobium, for food (nectar) - and shelter, in the form of bulbous swellings, while the trees rely on the ants - up to 100,000 each - to guard them against browsing animals that may want a quick chew.
To reveal what happens when a "cog" is removed from this particular web of life, Todd Palmer of the University of Florida and colleagues closed off patches of acacias in their study site over a ten-year period, so that elephants, giraffes and other large mammals could not feed on the trees.
As a result, ant colony size decreased and a parasitic ant species became dominant over the others. These effects led to more attacks by stem-boring beetles and reduced tree growth and survival.
Acacias which had been fenced off from wild herbivores looked sickly compared to their unfenced counterparts. The findings of the study published in the journal Science serve as a cautionary tale of how people can influence the ecosystem as their impacts cascade down unexpected paths.
"Throughout sub-Saharan Africa these large mammals are threatened by human population growth, habitat fragmentation, over-hunting, and other degradation, so we have to wonder how their loss will affect these ecosystems," says Palmer.
"The last thing you would think is that individual trees would start to suffer as well, and yet that's exactly what we see."
One irony of the findings is that the trees have developed their relationship with the ants to protect themselves against plant-eating mammals - and yet because of that relationship, the trees wind up actually needing the mammals.
"If you get rid of the large mammals, it shifts the balance of power, because the trees default on their end of the bargain," Palmer said.
"When the trees opt out, their hard-working employees starve and grow weak, which causes them to lose out. So, ironically, getting rid of the mammals causes individual trees to grow more slowly and die younger.
"However, as for the critical issue of whether the overall number of species in the study site changed, "we don't know enough about these big species and the myriad ways they affect ecosystems to be able to predict the "system-wide" consequences of their loss," he says.
But the message is clear.
"That's the tragedy of human-induced alteration of landscapes... we are changing the globe in such enormous ways, whether via greenhouse gases, acidification of oceans, nitrogen deposition, habitat degradation, land conversion, and other means... and we know so very little about so many species.
"Although we have certainly put a lot of time and effort into studying big mammals like elephants and giraffes, we still know appallingly little about the complex interactions - both direct and indirect - that these species have with other members of the communities in which these extraordinary creatures live. "
He says conservation efforts often focus too much on solely conserving species.
"It's important that conservation biologists continue to learn not only about individual species, but also the complex web of interactions in which these species are embedded, when thinking about how to maintain the integrity of ecological systems."
Tree Species Migrating Up Mountain Due To Global Warming
Vietnam – Hoang Lien National Park
This report comes from Vietnam Bridge, a web site with news and current affairs info from that nation.
Reacting to global warming, trees of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range within Hoang Lien Naitonal Park are moving higher to survive. According to a survey conducted from 2003 to 2007, some indigenous species of plants are moving higher and higher, including Van Sam Hoang Lien pine tree, which exists only on Hoang Lien Son and is named in the World Red Book. This kind of tree used to grow on an altitude of 2,200 – 2,400 meters, but now has moved up to 2,400 – 2,700 meters. Other prevalent trees of Hoang Lien Son like Thich Xi Pan and Thich Sa Pa that formerly grew at 1,700 meters are also moving higher.
Nguyen Huu Hanh, deputy director of the park, said that this phenomenon is clearly associated with shifting weather patterns and climate change, but that the park can’t afford to research this matter in depth. Temperature increases force some species of trees which live in low temperatures to move higher. According to environmentalists, if the temperature increases too quickly, many trees and plants will be lost because they won’t be able to adapt in time.
According to the Hydrometeorology Forecast Center of Lao Cai Province, Vietnam’s mountains are getting warmer. The patterns of cold and hot seasons are also changing, with the hot season getting longer. This is a critical point for the park, a valuable biosphere boasting nearly 2,850 floral species, many of which are threatened by extinction
January/February 2008 Issue of African Indaba
Download and print your own copy of the newest African Indaba HERE. You can also read our cutting edge hunting and conservation news from Africa online clicking at “Latest Edition” or copy and paste the following link into your browser: www.africanindaba.co.za/news.htm
News from Chumbe Island,
Greetings from Chumbe Island! We hope that you have had a wonderful time during this festive season and a good start of the New Year!
For Chumbe there have been a lot of things happening during the last six months, and we are pleased to announce that our latest newsletter now is available on our homepage. Please download the pdf directly from the following link;
http://www.chumbeisland.com/news/Newsletter1207/Newsletter%20Dec07_final2.pdf
We hope to see you back on the island during our 10-years Anniversary season (starting in June 2008) when we will celebrate with some special activities. Don't forget that we give special rates to returning guests...
Best wishes to you from the entire Chumbe Team,
POSITION(s) WANTED
Hi,
Wayne Lotter suggested I write to you for the Cleft Stick newsletter?
I've attached my CV too but he suggested just writing a small article for you to distribute in the newsletter?
I'm an ex park ranger/biologist from Australia who is currently volunteering on research projects on the Eastern Cape. I'm looking at travelling around Africa volunteering where I can - I have my own savings and can get myself around independently. I have a diverse range of field experience and natural resource management (so am easily pleased!) - with a particular interest in fire management and invasive species. But also have experience in radiotracking, animal trapping, vegetation surveys, living in remote areas, supervising and training workers/volunteers etc.
Anyway any assistance would be great,
Thanks very much,
Cheers,
Lea
Leanne Ezzy can be contacted at leanne.ezzy@gmail.com. I have a copy of her CV.- ed
Tailpiece-
A nice, calm and respectable lady went into the pharmacy, walked right up to the pharmacist, looked straight into his eyes, and said, "I would like to buy some cyanide."
The pharmacist asked, "Why in the world do you need cyanide?"
The lady replied, "I need it to poison my husband."
The pharmacist's eyes got big and he exclaimed, "Lord have mercy!
I can't give you cyanide to kill your husband! That's against the law! I'll lose my license! They'll throw both of us in jail! All kinds of bad things will happen. Absolutely not! You CANNOT have any cyanide!"
The lady reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of her husband in bed with the pharmacist's wife.
The pharmacist looked at the picture and replied, "Well now, that's different. You didn't tell me you had a prescription."
Matter of Fact
This is an electronic newsletter of the Game Rangers' Association of Africa. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Association, nor of the Editor. This is intended to be an exchange of news snips, ideas and communication between members. Newsletter content may be copied and re-distributed without authorisation. Correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at dyunnie@xsinet.co.za