THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) says it will increase its monitoring of airports and game parks in an effort to protect wildlife during the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly next month.
Report by Staff Reporter
In a statement yesterday, ZimParks said the event would attract large numbers of tourists, which might prompt some of them to be tempted to engage in illegal wildlife activities.
“Anti-poaching measures are an ongoing activity and are never targeted at one event alone and it is against this background that the authority continues to engage its stakeholders as a way of raising awareness on anti-poaching activities,” said the authority.
The authority advised visitors intending to purchase and export wildlife products to seek advice from the hosts’ wildlife authorities.
“The authority will also deploy more staff to deal with problem animals that might be encountered within Victoria Falls town and at Victoria Falls Airport,” ZimParks said.
Wildlife products, according to ZimParks, are strictly regulated and all exports require prior grant and presentation of a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species export permit at all ports of exit and entry into Zimbabwe.
According to ZimParks, it was imperative to channel resources and to protect Zimbabwe’s endangered wildlife species such as elephant and rhino.
