Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
Former poacher becomes Zimbabwe conservation advocate
FRANCE 24 English
Follow
8/22/2024
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
News
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Hunting is all what Tambanetchaku Mastic knew in his community in Cheretzi.
00:06
I grew up as a hunter.
00:12
Before game rangers eventually caught up with me in the animal reserve, hunting was our way of life.
00:19
He also grew maize, sorghum and cotton, and raised livestock in needy years,
00:25
but turned to poaching when recurring droughts made farming less valuable.
00:30
Then he was caught, spending nearly three months in jail,
00:33
where a program aimed at turning poachers into conservationists changed his outlook.
00:43
During my time in prison I learned many crafts, such as weaving and sculpting.
00:49
I was enlightened during my time of imprisonment and realized that I could make a living without hunting.
00:56
These days my main income comes from creating pieces of art which I sell to tourists.
01:03
Since he was freed, Mastic has been urging his fellow villagers to rely on farming crops and raising livestock.
01:10
Zimbabwe's authorities have also been working to tackle poaching in the country.
01:14
But if you look at where we have the biggest concentration of our animals, the greater part of Wange National Park,
01:20
we have not lost any single elephant over the last three, four years.
01:23
Because we are now more visible in the area, we do more patrols.
01:27
Even in areas like Cheretzi, the south-east of Gunaresho, we do a lot of awareness,
01:32
we do a lot of patrols, we do a lot of law enforcement.
01:35
What is more important is the resources to make sure that we are visible, we are around.
01:40
We also do a lot of awareness with our community so that they appreciate the importance of wildlife.
01:47
The results are promising, but Zimbabwe will still have to keep fighting to save its wildlife.
01:52
Poaching has cost the country close to $8 million in recent years.
Recommended
2:51
|
Up next
Zimbabwe
FRANCE 24 English
1/30/2018
1:48
Zimbabwe suffers from drought
FRANCE 24 English
7/17/2024
1:59
Zimbabwe court keeps opposition leader, activists in jail
FRANCE 24 English
9/24/2024
1:38
Zimbabwe to cull 200 elephants to ease drought pressure
FRANCE 24 English
9/19/2024
3:21
Vaez 2
FRANCE 24 English
9/28/2024
12:39
Perspective
FRANCE 24 English
2/10/2025
1:27
Concerns grow over detained Burundian journalist Sandra Muhoza
FRANCE 24 English
3/22/2025
7:28
Entre Nous
FRANCE 24 English
4/8/2025
1:19
Deadly flash floods hit Horn of Africa
FRANCE 24 English
11/17/2023
1:14
METEO TEST EN
FRANCE 24 English
4/1/2025
2:41
Uganda''s oil boom
FRANCE 24 English
2/6/2018
1:29
Who's who in new French cabinet
FRANCE 24 English
9/23/2024
1:00
Uganda detains opposition lawmakers, trial postponed for second time
FRANCE 24 English
8/27/2024
3:47
Settler rampage in West Bank sparks condemnations
FRANCE 24 English
8/16/2024
1:46
UN biodiversity preservation talks end without deal on financing
FRANCE 24 English
11/3/2024
6:55
Entre Nous US Ballot
FRANCE 24 English
10/23/2024
2:00
Algeria's Tebboune re-elected president for second term
FRANCE 24 English
9/9/2024
5:36
Entre Nous 12122024-1
FRANCE 24 English
12/12/2024
2:18
‘Blocked on both sides’: Transnistria residents fear for future
FRANCE 24 English
3/8/2024
1:57
Funerals held for victims of attack on DR Congo camp
FRANCE 24 English
5/16/2024
4:18
Former Latvia PM on France 24
FRANCE 24 English
3/2/2025
1:35
Gambian festival revitalises tradition of initiatory rite
FRANCE 24 English
1/30/2024
2:07
Argentina to withdraw from WHO
FRANCE 24 English
2/7/2025
2:23
Sudan ceasefire to expire
FRANCE 24 English
4/27/2023
1:33
Senegal grapples with floods ahead of parliamentary elections
FRANCE 24 English
11/12/2024