Unmasked Zimbabwe & The Life Threatening Sale of Baby Elephants to China

robertq

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China is stealing African animals yet again, and covering it up with suspicious paperwork and probably in violation of its own regulations. More than 30 wild baby elephants are in bomas in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, awaiting clearance for transport overland to Maputo and shipment to China. The probable transit destination is Shanghai Wild Animal Park, though the final endpoint is possibly wealthy private collectors. Many will undoubtedly die before they get there. By DON PINNOCK.

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According to an undercover wildlife investigator who provided information published in The Star newspaper, the elephant calves are being held at the ZWMA Mtshibi Animal Capture Unit's holding centre, a few kilometres from Hwange Main Camp, where they’re being vetted for diseases prior to export.

Tourists reported seeing helicopter and ground teams from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) roping the babies after separating them from their mothers by firing shots above the heads of the herd. The calves would be below the age of five and not properly weaned, which reduces their chance of survival.

Renowned wildlife photographer Karl Amman, who has investigated the illegal animal trade with Asia, is convinced those young elephants which survive will be used in a way which violates Chinese regulations designed to protect them.

“Based on a previous deal,” he said, “the elephants will probably sell for around $70,000. I doubt whether a single importer would spend that money without expecting to recuperate their costs. That means they’ll be sold on and expected to earn their keep in shows. And that’s illegal.”

A Chinese government document headed The Guidance on Further Strengthening the Regulation of Zoos No 2010]172 states that no ‘animal performance’ is allowed at any zoo or other public park and that animals may not be irritated or disturbed. Leasing out wild animals to organizations or individuals for profit is forbidden (as is eating wild animals in zoos or parks). Any violation would mean the withdrawal of a zoo’s permit to operate.

According to Amman, CITES is not allowed to issue import or export permits if national laws are flouted, but these are ignored by all the key players.

“At minimum, China and Zimbabwe should categorically state the baby elephants will not be used in any show setting. The animals should be monitored and if the laws are not adhered to the elephants should be confiscated and repatriated.”

This is highly unlikely to happen, as this would probably make the deal unaffordable. In the export of African wildlife, crooked deals and violations abound and Zimbabwe is high on the list of offenders, with high Zanu-PF officials allegedly involved. The latest lion census in Hwange found only 83 lions, down from 200 two years ago. With the near extinction of tigers, lions (and lion bones) are now in high demand in Asia.

Zimbabwean officials are evidently in China to inspect the facilities at the final destination of the baby elephants. According to Amman, “I have little doubt that [they] had their trip paid for and were lavishly entertained, as were CITES officials from the DRC, which is now suggesting that they will start to exchange apes and okapis for “scientific” purposes with Chinese zoos.” In 2012 Zimbabwe shipped four under-aged elephants to China via Emirates Airlines but two died soon after arrival.

In 2010 four elephants were shipped to China from Tanzania, which netted the exporter $300,000. The Conservation Action Trust has obtained a copy of the export permit.

The animals were shipped to Shanghai Wild Animal Park, which seems to be a clearing house for such exports. The exporter was listed as Gumbo Reptile Enterprises of Arusha, though no record of such a company exists. The Chinese import company was given as Tianjin Golden Home Animal and Import and Export Trade Co Ltd. A web search produced a reference from CantonFairs.org, which gave a Tianjin website which did not exist.

The Conservation Action Trust has drawn up a letter being circulated to wildlife and other concerned organisations in an attempt to reverse the sale and return the calves to their mothers.

“If this proposed transaction gets the go-ahead, it will open the floodgates of African wildlife even further,” said Amman. “If we can’t stop this export of 34 baby elephants, then I see no hope as far as the adult getting killed for the ivory or the rhinos for their horns.” The Chinese safari-park industry has become a key demand source, without any indication of being willing to adhere to the standards of animal husbandry, which comes with the membership of any recognized zoo association.



Source: http://www.dailymaverick.co.za...-china/#.VH8hN_ldU1J
 
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I have also read about china investment in Zimbabwe and some ongoing trade agreements.

The elephant importation to china were to be for their Zoos, that was from the reports that i have read.

China being China probably did not think about talking the the Zoo's in the world to try and obtain some specimens.

China is trying to set up modern zoo's. They are also looking for world wide game mounts for a museum.
 
In today's world do you believe what you read ????????
 
In today's world do you believe what you read ????????

In another words, you believe what you read.

Born Free Foundation
Our friends at the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force have made us aware of a horrifying situation in Zimbabwe, where 34 baby elephants between the ages of 2 ½ and 5 years old have apparently been captured from the Hwange region, destined for Chinese zoos.

Sadly, this is not the first time such an export has occurred: in 2013, three elephant calves (pictured) were sent to a Chinese zoo, where at least one is thought to have died.

Furthermore, there are reports that 7 lions and about 10 sable antelope have been captured for export.
 
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My point, I do not believe China is putting them in a zoo for the betterment of the species.
 
Zimbabwe's government admits capturing baby elephants to send to UAE
Wildlife groups say elephants will die if separated from mothers as minister tells Telegraph that it is normal for wildlife to be exported 'from time to time'
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Zimbabwe's Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere told the Telegraph it was normal for wildlife to be captured in the country's largest game reserve and exported "from time to time" Photo: JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP

By Peta Thornycroft, Harare and Aislinn Laing in Johannesburg

2:35PM GMT 04 Dec 2014


Zimbabwe's government has admitted capturing baby elephants for export to the United Arab Emirates, despite warnings from conservation groups that taking them away from their mothers could kill them.

Saviour Kasukuwere, Zimbabwe's environment minister, told the Telegraph it was normal for wildlife to be captured in the country's largest game reserve and exported "from time to time".

But he denied reports that the animals were destined for Chinese zoos, saying they were destined for the UAE.

"We have sent our vets there to look at conditions," he said.

Claims that 34 baby elephants, seven lion cubs and 10 rare sable antelope were rounded up for sale to China surfaced this week among wildlife charities in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said visitors to the park had witnessed the capture of elephants aged between two-and-a-half and five years old by government helicopters and ground teams, who roped them together after separating them from their mothers by firing shots above the heads of the herd.

The Telegraph has since obtained photographs of an unknown number of baby elephants being held in wooden pens in a compound administered by Zimbabwe's parks authority in the western Hwange National Park.

Zimbabwe's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it was urgently investigating the alleged sale.

"We are trying to speak to those who we believe brokered the deal and check on the welfare of the captured animals," Ed Lanca, ZNSPCA's chairman, said.

Their export is connected with a massive shortfall of resources for the government-run wildlife authority, which is tasked with protecting Zimbabwe's 10 national parks and dwindling wildlife.

Last year, ZNSPCA rescued five young elephants taken from their families in northwestern Zimbabwe. The same year, three baby elephants were sent to China. They survived the journey but one died shortly afterwards and the other two are reported to be in poor health.

Elephants live in highly social, matriarchal societies, and babies are fully dependent on their mother's milk until at least five years of age, often pining and dying if they are taken away from them.

Colin Gilles, a member of Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe who is also part of a volunteer team which counts elephants in the park, said elephant exporting was not illegal but unethical.

"Surely the exporters would not send babies? If they are too young they can't be released back into the wild as they will not survive," he said.

"We know capture of wildlife is happening for sale as the country is so desperately broke."
 

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Well today Prince William is here (USA) to speak to Obama on Illegal animal trading.
 
yes,the chinese are trembling for p.w.
Simply rediculous.
 
Don't worry King B.O. will do some executive action and ALL MUST listen to him. Prince William should be more concerned with the situation of his dad having improper relations with his animal wife Camilla, Duchess of Horse.

As Foxi stated with these two on the case I'm sure the Chicoms are shaking in their boots. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
Too funny !!!!!!
 
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Were are all the animal right (idiot's ) sorry..... folks that jump all over hunter's constantly. Let's hope O shit head bama is not playing golf somewhere so he can fix this!......YA RIGHT
 

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