Poachers poison 90 elephants with cyanide in Zimbabwe wildlife park

[Fuddnik]

Source: NBCnews.com

By Henry Austin, NBC News contributor

Almost 90 elephants have been slaughtered by poachers who poisoned them with industrial cyanide, authorities in Zimbabwe said Wednesday.

Rangers in the Hwange National Park discovered the carcasses of more than 40 of the gentle giants earlier this month and they continue to find bodies in recent weeks.

Park spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo told NBC News that 87 corpses had been found so far, all with their tusks removed.

“Industrial cyanide used in gold mining was put in remote water holes and on salty ground that the elephants like to lick after drinking the water,” she said. “The poison was killing them and they were taking the tusks.”

She added that smaller animals, vultures and predators feeding on the dead animals had also died as a result of the poison, adding that they feared more elephant victims would be found in the park, around 450 miles west of the country's capital, Harare.

(more)

Read more: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/25/20689560-poachers-poison-90-elephants-with-cyanide-in-zimbabwe-wildlife-park?lite

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Just too disgusting for words.

[GliderGuider]

1. If there was ever a species that deserved to go extinct

It's us.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. Yup.

[Mnemosyne]

5. +1000 nt

[Auntie Bush]

38. Just think how bountiful this world would be if man had never been born.

Or cease to exixt in the near future. Maybe there would be hope for Mother earth.

[complain jane]

44. I agree 100%.

[Scuba]

2. Beyond sad.

[Beaverhausen]

4. all that for tusks?

WTF??? Sad beyond belief.

[Blue_Tires]

25. Just like shark fins and rhino horns....

very tragic....

[geek tragedy]

6. In some wildlife parks, they just hire mercenaries to shoot every poacher on sight.

Gotta say, that seems like the right way of doing things--we're talking about preserving species here.

[The2ndWheel]

8. Violence does solve problems

Might does sometimes make right. Well, usually.

But, you gotta do what you gotta do. Sometimes people want the tusks of animals. Sometimes people want the land other animals live on, and kill them off. Or stick them in a cage somewhere so that we can at least feel like we're saving or preserving them. Or we'll call them pests, even though they're just looking for food.

Weird world we live in sometimes.

[dhill926]

9. have to say.....

I agree. This has simply gone too far. Perhaps there's a better way, but nothing seems to be working. Of course changing the behavior of folks who use the tusks will help, but this is urgent.

[closeupready]

12. It's sad that desperate measures have to be considered, but

I suppose things are getting that desperate.

[geek tragedy]

13. Especially in rhino preserves.

This is third hand, but apparently the pay is EXTREMELY high for the mercs they hire, but the guys have to take extended periods off because they wind up shooting so many people that it becomes psychologically impossible to bear, even for professional mercs.

[sir pball]

18. South Africa, IIRC

Started doing it in the late 70s/early 80s I think. Machine-gunning from helos and the like. Apparently it works pretty well, I'm perfectly comfortable with it.

[azurnoir]

54. so you are promoting machine gunning Blacks just like White SA's did during the apartheid era?

it boogles really it does

[sir pball]

59. If the POACHERS happen to be black, sure.

Or Asian, Latino, White, or any other color. I suspect the Zimbabwean military who should be slaughtering these price isn't exactly a lily-white group anyway.

Or do you support elephant poaching?

[azurnoir]

60. No I do not support poaching however

I also do not support machine gunning humans either I guess that's how we're different

[Posteritatis]

21. I'm comfortable with that approach. (nt)

[7962]

35. I agree with all of you. But I'm curious, do all of you also support the death penalty here?

For the murderers? Because I do, in the right cases.

[Posteritatis]

37. Given the choice between some poachers and the entire species they're bent on destroying? Sure. (nt)

[Autumn Colors]

7. OMG

[zonkers]

10. DEATH PENALTY FOR POACHING. DEATH PENALTY FOR POACHING.

[azurnoir]

23. Perhaps you should take a look at the economic conditions in Zimbabwe

before wishing death on poachers, in Zimbabwe there is something like 80-94% unemployment

eta I'm not approving of poaching however something should done to remedy the economic conditions that lead to some choosing this as a means of income, I'll wager for more than a few it's poaching or letting their families starve

this and most articles I've read on the subject leave that detail out

Current economic conditions

Since 2000 the Zimbabwean government has taken most of the farmland previously used by commercial farmers (mostly white) and reallocated it. Due to bad publicity claiming that most of this land reform happened in a corrupt way and land went to politicians from ZANU-PF, military leaders or leaders in the police forces who account to less than 1,000 individuals, actually more than 100,000 blacks were resettled on land which was previously owned by few whites. These new farmers were usually inexperienced or uninterested in farming, and could not maintain the intensive, industrialized farming of the previous owners. Short term gains were often made by selling the farms equipment. The loss of agricultural expertise also triggered a loss of agricultural financing and market confidence which made recovery almost impossible. A considerable amount of this land has however gone to local people who use it mainly for subsistence farming. Therefore production of staple food, such as maize has not suffered as much as typical export crops, such as tobacco or coffee.[11] Zimbabwe has sustained the 30th occurrence of hyperinflation ever recorded in world history.[12] The previously large exports of tobacco, cotton, soya and horticultural produce have consequently reduced dramatically and the income derived from them lost to the national economy.

Government spending is 97.8% of GDP. It has partly been financed by printing money, which has led to hyperinflation. State enterprises are strongly subsidized, taxes and tariffs are high. State regulation is costly to companies, starting or closing a business is slow and costly.[13] Labor market is highly regulated, hiring a worker is cumbersome, firing a worker is difficult and unemployment has risen to 94% (at the end of 2008; the figure was 80% in 2005)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Zimbabwe something like 80-94% unemployment

[Nihil]

48. If they want to shoot something because they're poor, let them shoot the corrupt bastards in charge.

Fuck 'em. They wanted Mugabe, they got him.

That is no excuse for wholesale slaughter like this (or like the limp-dicked "hunter"
who slaughtered an elephant in the other LBN thread).

[oberliner]

49. You have not a clue what you are talking about

"I'll wager for more than a few it's poaching or letting their families starve "

Seriously ill-informed remark.

The poaching syndicate is made up of the wealthiest criminals in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe 1 percent, if you will

Expand your research beyond Wikipedia - I implore you.

[azurnoir]

50. yes the poaching synicate bosses not the poachers themselves same as with any crime organization

but thanks your concern is duly noted

[oberliner]

52. Can you confess that you are ignorant about this topic?

Do you profess to know anything about it beyond what is in Wikipedia?

[azurnoir]

53. do you have proof that the poachers themselves the ones actually physically out in the field

are the 1% as you claim? You see in most crime organizations there is a hierarchy the guys at the top get rich, the ones out on the street do not

[oberliner]

55. So you don't know anything about this subject outside of Wikipedia?

Is that fair to say?

[azurnoir]

56. again do you have proof of your claims?

or are you substituting that with attempting to delegitimize what I've said?

[oberliner]

57. My central claim is that you don't know what you are talking about

And that the totality of your knowledge on the subject comes from what you read on Wikipedia and a few articles online.

Sadly, that is a claim that I would be unable to authenticate, unless you'd like to confess to the charge.

[azurnoir]

58. In a country with 80+% unemployment it is hardly fantasic to claim that some would

turn to criminal activity to support their families aqnd I'm not confessing to anything as I have committed no crime here other than pointing out the logical

[zonkers]

11. You mean to tell me in this day of GPS and electronic tagging, authorities cannot track and protect

herds?

[geek tragedy]

14. You can protect a herd, but every piece of salt or watering hole?

Zimbabwe doesn't have a lot of resources.

[rhett o rick]

15. Tragedy.

[Aldo Leopold]

16. Rue the day, we will.

Our species, *sigh*.

[The Stranger]

17. I still can't understand why the Zimbabwean government cannot do something to stop this.

This is their greatest resource, entrusted to them by the world, and it just goes on and on and on.

[geek tragedy]

19. Because the government is still Robert Mugabe nt

[Posteritatis]

22. Look at who's managing(sic) the country. (nt)

[azurnoir]

20. Zimbabwe poachers jailed 15 years for elephant poisoning

A Zimbabwe court on Wednesday sentenced three poachers to at least 15 years in prison each for poisoning and killing 81 elephants, state radio reported.

A provincial magistrate sentenced 25-year-old Diyane Tshuma to 16 years in prison for poisoning elephants with cyanide at in Hwange National Park, in the west of Zimbabwe, Spot FM reported.

His co-accused Robert Maphosa, 42, and Thabani Zondo, 24, were each sentenced to 15 years.

.......................................

Tshuma was ordered to pay $600,000 (440,000 euro) to the Zimbabwe Wildlife and Parks Authority for killing the animals, while Zondo must pay $200,000 by the end of the year.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jDF_zfxLJj2RHQlTYcfMzjTq0Oqg?docId=371ec24e-9101-4922-af29-47e788e4c665

[Owl]

30. While in prison let them drink only water from the poisoned watering holes.

[azurnoir]

32. well please take a look at post #23

I'[m not all too sure poaching is a first career choice in Zimbabwe

[jimlup]

24. That is horrible...

If you think of all of the planet's species and the small number of wild elephants this is a very very grave crime.

[freshwest]

26. Who is still buying ivory? Stop the demand, put the people to work farming or whatever works.

[Lasher]

34. China.

In 2012, The New York Times reported on a large upsurge in ivory poaching, with about 70% flowing to China.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/africa/africas-elephants-are-being-slaughtered-in-poaching-frenzy.html?pagewanted=all

[freshwest]

42. Thanks. Truly horrible and a waste. No chance of them agreeing to stop it, huh...

[Lasher]

43. No, they won't stop voluntarily.

As a matter of fact they were just set loose by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES).

The rise of China and the modern poaching crisis

To many conservationists with knowledge of China and its failure to control trade in tiger parts, bear parts, rhinoceros horn and a range of endangered and vulnerable CITES listed species, it seemed unlikely that China would be given "buyer approved" status for ivory. This is because that status would be based on China's ability to regulate and control its trade. To demonstrate the lack of ivory controls in China, the EIA leaked an internal Chinese document showing how 121 tonnes of ivory from its own official stockpile, (equivalent to the tusks from 11,000 elephants), could not be accounted for, a Chinese official admitting "this suggests a large amount of illegal sale of the ivory stockpile has taken place." However, a CITES mission recommended that CITES approve China's request, and this was supported by WWF and TRAFFIC. China gained its "approved" status at a meeting of the CITES Standing Committee on 15 July 2008.

China and Japan bought 108 tonnes of ivory in another "one-off" sale in November 2008 from Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. At the time the idea was that these legal ivory sales may depress the price, thereby removing poaching pressure, an idea supported by both TRAFFIC and WWF.

China's increased involvement in infrastructure projects in Africa and the purchase of natural resources has alarmed many conservationists who fear the extraction of wildlife body parts is increasing. Since China was given "approved buyer" status by CITES, the smuggling of ivory seems to have increased alarmingly. Although, WWF and TRAFFIC who supported the China sale, describe the increase in illegal ivory trade a possible "coincidence", others are less cautious. Chinese nationals working in Africa have been caught smuggling ivory in many African countries, with at least ten arrested at Kenyan airports in 2009. In many African countries domestic markets have grown, providing easy access to ivory, although the Asian ivory syndicates are most destructive buying and shipping tonnes at a time.

Contrary to the advice of CITES that prices may be depressed, and those that supported the sale of stockpiles in 2008, the price of ivory in China has greatly increased. Some believe this may be due to deliberate price fixing by those who bought the stockpile, echoing the warnings from the Japan Wildlife Conservation Society on price-fixing after sales to Japan in 1997, and monopoly given to traders who bought stockpiles from Burundi and Singapore in the 1980s. It may also be due to the exploding number of Chinese able to purchase luxury goods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_trade#The_rise_of_China_and_the_modern_poaching_crisis

[dougolat]

46. Just THINK of how much that very last elephant will be worth!

[Auntie Bush]

39. Yes, put the buyers in jail. nt

[windsormich19454]

27. What a bunch of barbarians

If there is a hell, then these poachers are the ones who deserve to go there. Utter lowlifes.

[uppityperson]

33. +1, I agree.

Wish for retribution. For sure

[Emit]

28. There. Are. No. Words. No words.

[dipsydoodle]

29. ditto

.

[Earth_First]

31. I say to hell with a lengthy prison sentence...

Drive them out into the park, break their fucking legs, and push them off the back of the pickup truck.

Nature will figure it out...

[7962]

36. Can they live without their tusks? And rhinos?

If so, why not take them before poachers can get to them?

[freshwest]

41. That was exactly what I was thinking. You beat me to it. Herd them up, tranquilize the and cut.

This is sick, it's insane.

[krispos42]

51. I think, in the near future...

...we'll be able to grow elephant tusks in a lab.

Genetic engineering of whatever cellular structure in an elephant makes the tusks, but in a petri dish. Feed it nutrients, watch it grow a tusk, then harvest it when it gets big enough or whatever.


I think eventually, farms will become obsolescent, as we'll be able to clone specific parts of a relative handful of especially tasty animals en masse, supplementing and eventually replacing traditionally raised and slaughtered livestock.

Imagine industrial laboratories growing specific cuts of meat in a sterile enviroment... no antibiotics or disease, no pain or suffering of the animal because there's no nervous system or brain.

We could then even humanely bring back mink and fox fur, because the fur would just be grown... no muscle or skeleton or other flesh to waste to get the fur.


And then maybe we'll leave the fucking elephants alone.

[Deep13]

40. I just don't have enough outrage left for this.

Sorry. I doubt the species can ever recover from that. I hope those people get stuck in burning cars.

[complain jane]

45. How do you go through life

as a selfish, self-serving, disgusting enough human being as to inflict this on innocent creatures?

Innocent creatures who apparently think and feel far more deeply than the cancers that did these unspeakable acts.

[The2ndWheel]

47. Human progress comes at a cost

[bklyncowgirl]

61. As long as people are willing to pay vast sums for elephant ivory, this will go on.

Unfortunately, for the nouveau riche in some Asian countries Ivory is a huge status symbol. The only way to save the elephants is to take away the demand. Unfortunately I'm not sure how you do that with so many countries with very different ideas on conservation and the responsibility of the individual regarding endangered species and a desperately poor population in the parts of the world where elephants live.