Vice President Guy Scott says government is concerned with the high levels of poaching and human-wildlife conflicts.
Dr. Scott says this is so because poaching depletes a national resource which apparently belongs to the people while human-wildlife conflicts directly impact on the welfare of local communities already living on the threshold of poverty.
ZANIS reports that the Vice President made the remarks when he officially launched the Elephant Orphanage Project at Lilayi in Lusaka yesterday.
The project is a partnership between Game Rangers International (GRI) and Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) with support from the David Shepherd Foundation.
Dr. Scott noted that conservation is not just about saving and caring for baby elephants but that there is a much bigger picture to address which includes resource protection, research, education and community outreach.
He was pleased to learn that ZAWA and GRI are working hard to ensure that all the components are being addressed.
Dr. Scott further emphasised on the need to raise awareness among the local community on the long term benefits of looking after their natural resources.
Meanwhile, Tourism and Art Deputy Minister Keith Mukata noted that the facility launched at Lilayi is unique and has the potential of raising good awareness to the younger generations as well as tourists on the importance and value of wildlife conservation in the country.
Mr. Mukata said it was befitting that his Ministry witnessed the launch of Lilayi nursery which he said will serve as a beacon of its renewed effort to strengthen the conservation of Zambia’s natural resources.
And Project Manager Rachael Murton explained that the elephants are fed after every three hours and are at the moment drinking between 16 to 20 litres of milk per day, depending on the age and size.
ZANIS
what a beautiful project
I think what Zambia needs is more support to resource protection than this silly project.Â
Zambia needs lots of support in all sorts of areas Ba bigge. What are you doing?
Zambia should have done this long ago. Kenya and Tanzania have been doing so for years. Well done any way.
It was started way back in MMD era, it is not new, one should not even boast about it.
This is not the first elephant orphanage project in Zambia. There’s one already operating in Kafue National Park.
The one in Kafue National Park is under same management (Game Rangers International) with this new one at Lilayi. The only difference is that the one in Lusaka is a nursery whilst the other one in KNP is for elephants approaching release age.
I don’t support such projects because no one has demonstrated the truth behind these orphanages, these are just for tourists profitable organizations and later they ride these poor elephants, so when they grow old the hunting license is sold to an international hunter for a profit! why such activities are allowed by the GRZ in Zambia?GRZ need to check properly because getting excited with such activities……….sad indeed
Livingstone – Â I think you will find these elephants are returned to the wild once they are old enough to look after themselves. They are definitely not co-opted into Elephant back safaris. They are released into national parks so are not exposed to the hunting industry either. Check your facts before posting misleading comments that denigrate a truly worthwhile project to protect Zambia’s magnificent wildlife.
#4 Lonero what does it matter who started the project as long as at the end of the day, the Elephants are protected? We should be more concerned about the high levels of poaching and be glad that at least something is being done about it.
If the Minister of Tourism is not there to officiate at a function of this nature, then the Vice President automatically takes her place? Its that how it works pa Zed these days?
iwe Guy your president is  the one that said its wrong to respect animals than humans and he released all the pochers from prisons. He even said its wrong to make tared road to mfuwe becaused animals will then be movin on tar mark
#9 is it true the what sata said ?or u are just joking.anyway its a good project,how many people have been employed on this project?