From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: ZIMBABWE: WILDLIFE FEEDING SCHEME MAKES HEADWAY
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 19:11:55 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Agriculture; Environment
Title: ZIMBABWE: WILDLIFE FEEDING SCHEME MAKES HEADWAY


an inter press service feature

by olekanye paul

harare, oct 2 (ips) -- at a time when the world is mobilising
drought relief food aid for millions facing starvation across
southern africa, a feeding scheme for wildlife launched by
conservationists here is making steady progress.

known as ''save our wildlife heritage'', the scheme was
launched in february by a group of volunteers in zimbabwe to
feed the drought-affected animals in the south-eastern lowveld
in and around chiredzi town, about 300 km from harare, the
capital.

the feeding scheme was launched following the deaths of
hundreds of animals, according to the project coordinator, penny
havnar (40), who is based at chiredzi.

''it's terrible watching these huge animals, unsteadily
supported by their once strong but now weak and thin legs,
eagerly digging their heads in mud hoping to find water while
the rivers have dried up'', says havnar, referring to the
hippos, one of the species hardest hit by the drought.

out of an estimated 3,000 hippos that used to be sighted in
the area before the drought, only 400 remain. altogether, 800
animals -- among them hippos, elephants, elands, zebra and
rhinos -- are benefitting from the scheme.

''the project would include more animals depending on the
inflow of funds from contributors'', harnar told ips.

''this is not an organisation but a group of volunteers. we
are restricted to operate only at the south-eastern lowveld as
it is the most drought-affected area in zimbabwe.

''this is the place where thousands of wildlife animals are
dying and those surviving risk being wiped out by extreme heat
and lack of food''.

the worst drought in southern africa's living memory is
driving wild animals like monkeys and baboons, desperate
for food, to steal it from households, and kill chickens and
goats. (more/ips)


zimbabwe: wildlife (2)

'save our wildlife heritage' is also involved in relocating
starving animals from critical zones to the less-drought-hit
areas.

in the last eight months, donor agencies and local wildlife
conservationists managed to raise about 80,000 u.s. dollars.
the money is being used to buy sugarcane, fodder, hay and any
other greens that the animals feed on.

most of the feed is obtained from irrigated farms of northern
zimbabwe which have not been badly affected by the drought.

''with more funds we could feed hundreds more'', says
havnar.

big rivers in the area in which hippos and crocodiles used to
inhabit have dried up. the once large and perennial pools have
been reduced to death-traps where some of the thirsty beasts get
stuck into.

in gonarezhou, a sprawling game park in the south-eastern
lowveld, less than 50 of the original 650 hippos now survive,
according to wildlife officials.

however, since 'save our wildlife heritage' was launched, the
rate of death of wild animals has been reduced, says havnar.

some sympathetic commercial game farmers have relocated some
of the starving game to their farms.

conservationists are worried that a prolonged drought could
result not only in more deaths, but also the starving animals
might not mate.

''lack of food and water results in stress and consequently
obstructs reprodution'', an official of the wildlife and
national parks department told ips. (end/ips/op/apc/92)