Former poacher becomes Zimbabwe conservation advocate

FRANCE 24 English

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

Transcript

00:00Hunting is all what Tambanetchaku Mastic knew in his community in Cheretzi.

00:06I grew up as a hunter.

00:12Before game rangers eventually caught up with me in the animal reserve, hunting was our way of life.

00:19He also grew maize, sorghum and cotton, and raised livestock in needy years,

00:25but turned to poaching when recurring droughts made farming less valuable.

00:30Then he was caught, spending nearly three months in jail,

00:33where a program aimed at turning poachers into conservationists changed his outlook.

00:43During my time in prison I learned many crafts, such as weaving and sculpting.

00:49I was enlightened during my time of imprisonment and realized that I could make a living without hunting.

00:56These days my main income comes from creating pieces of art which I sell to tourists.

01:03Since he was freed, Mastic has been urging his fellow villagers to rely on farming crops and raising livestock.

01:10Zimbabwe's authorities have also been working to tackle poaching in the country.

01:14But if you look at where we have the biggest concentration of our animals, the greater part of Wange National Park,

01:20we have not lost any single elephant over the last three, four years.

01:23Because we are now more visible in the area, we do more patrols.

01:27Even in areas like Cheretzi, the south-east of Gunaresho, we do a lot of awareness,

01:32we do a lot of patrols, we do a lot of law enforcement.

01:35What is more important is the resources to make sure that we are visible, we are around.

01:40We also do a lot of awareness with our community so that they appreciate the importance of wildlife.

01:47The results are promising, but Zimbabwe will still have to keep fighting to save its wildlife.

01:52Poaching has cost the country close to $8 million in recent years.

Category

Transcript

Recommended