Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says there are more civilized ways for sustainable management wildlife than culling. Mr. Sinkamba said culling of wildlife is not an option but a primitive conservation strategy.
Reacting to the disclosure that the Zambian authorities plan to proceed with the aborted 2016 programme intended to cull up to 2,000 hippos in the Luangwa Valley, allegedly for overpopulation, the Green Party leader said Zambia needs to learn from other countries such as Kenya and Tanzania what to do to wildlife when confronted with overpopulation and drought conditions.
“Culling of wildlife is not an option. It is a primitive wildlife conservation strategy. There are more sustainable measures out there. Relocation of entrapped animals is one such modern conservation tool. The trouble with our colleagues in the PF Government is that leadership with environmental consciousness is lacking though, unfortunately, they wear green colours.
“What is more appalling is that the Luangwa Valley is not overpopulated as they claim. The hippo population in that conservation area has dwindled by about 14-20% in the last 20 years motivated largely by several factors mainly poor conservation policies, strategies and allocation of financial and human resources.
“In any case, Luangwa Valley is not the only Game Park in Zambia. We have about 20 National Game Parks and over 30 game reserves. In fact, most, if not all the parks require restocking. A serious environmentally-conscious government would have opted for relocation than culling. We must take a leaf from the Republics of Kenya and Tanzania that relocate their animals when conditions dictate,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
Mr. Sinkamba said Kenya and Tanzania, do, year-in-year out, relocate wildlife from drought stricken areas to other conservation areas across the country.
“Mind you, hippos are not exclusively for Luangwa. They can live anywhere in the country. So, they can easily be relocated to other parts of the country. If Government says it has no resources do so, we can move in and help marshal the resources. We have done it before for the Copperbelt Environment Project and Zambia Environmental Restoration Project. We cannot fail to do so to save the hippos,” Mr. Sinkamba added.
“This government needs to read the ball game. Mining has run its race. It is proving to be unsustainable and no longer as beneficial to the nation as it used to be. The next most viable sectors are high-value agriculture and eco-tourism. So, how do you promote eco-tourism when you cull the very animals that tourists are expected to come and watch? The culling policy is motivated by pure greed,” he added.
“What is disheartening is that day-in-day out we hear of one scandal or the other. It is high time that President Lungu brought these scandals to an end. He constitutionally bound to do. We therefore urge him to swiftly move in and stop the prospective curling of the hippos,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
I dont understand this president called.I voted for him but iam so worried that he cant even protect the natural resources of the country.where on earth can u cull the animals when we have parks without even hippos.come on can he show leadership by not allowing crooks over the world to take advantage of him.Its too much and my heart is trouble.I have to Lungwa valley I dont see overpopulation of animals.why do u want to destroy the country over pieces of silver kanshi?u’re old n u have less 30years to live on earth.Do u think about the future mr.president of yo children n grand children.u think they gonna stay in USA?
The Chamba man makes more sense that Edgar and his corrupt band in PF!The problem we have in Zambia is absence of leadership
I dont understand this president called Lungu.I voted for him but iam so worried that he cant even protect the natural resources of the country.where on earth can u cull the animals when we have parks without even hippos.come on can he show leadership by not allowing crooks over the world to take advantage of him.Its too much and my heart is in trouble.I have been to Lungwa valley I dont see overpopulation of animals.why do u want to destroy the country over pieces of silver kanshi?u’re old n u have less 30years to live on earth.Do u think about the future mr.president of yo children n grand children?u think they gonna stay in USA?
OP saying we told you so is not a good thing, but in this case we emphasize lungu is the wrong man for Zambia.
Lungu is probably oblivious to this decision or is in it ……either way he is not presidential materia.
I like sinkamba and his sober analysis of issues….he might just get my vote.
Agree with Sinkamba, however, people all know what P.F is all about, & I won’t bore anyone, as we’ve already debated millions of times what P.F is about, -NOT GOOD!!
Green Sinkamba, give us statistics to show that there is space in the other parks where you want the hippos to be relocated. Also show that the rate if growth of hippo population in those areas is diminishing, otherwise I will describe your article as the side effects of medicinal narijuana.
If it is cruel to cull hippos then it must be equally cruel to end the lives of all those cattle that Zambeef slaughters for beef, and pigs for pork, and chickens for chicken…..(help me with that one….kikikikiki).
Very poor “analysis”….. you need to be asking the government for the statistics because they have not offered any in their decision to cull. You talk of cows and chicken ask yourself why these animals u eat everyday are not extinct or threatened with extinction despite being eaten in copious numbers ???? Please put in some effort of thought when commenting on issues
These are the same theives looking to loot at any given chance…..
,,,the hippo meat will be given or sold to people cheaply.
Mr. sinkamba makes a lot more sense on this issue.
I like this guy – always pragmatic, always solution seeking. I read about millions of Euros that have been donated for wildlife. One would think this is the time to allocate that donation to a solution such as Sinkamba’s.
Crocodiles are killing our people in remote areas every day. These are the ones that require culling. For hippos, just give the meat to prisoners and hospitals for those that consume this meat, for hippos – cull and feed, we cant have our people starving in the midst of plenty
Peter , these PF hangar are too lazy and broke to think like that…….they think restocking is a waiste of money and who among them can have the energy to do and direct such work ? Nobody.
You see them all looking for road tenders and now no eurobonds they have resorted to selling pointless things like flood monitoring systems to Zambia…
The army , ZNS and ZAF have the manpower and equipment with a few specialists to carryout restocking….
This is an EXCUSE FOR HUNTING – its being advertised on US hunting sites -the trophy bastards are all over Africa killing what they can get and thieving Governments just want the money to pocket. Does Zambia want tourism and hopefully people gain from it or people get dead animals as meat– then NOTHING: it’s a choice.
#4.1 Shameless, I said “If it is cruel to cull hippos then it must be equally cruel to end the lives of all those cattle that Zambeef slaughters for beef, and pigs for pork, and chickens for chicken…..(help me with that one….kikikikiki)”. Uwe upnd cadre, please put some effort into your thinking, start by reading correctly. I am referring to the point of cruelty of culling hippos while referencing domestic animals which equally are living creatures. Dull as you are, you refer instead to breeding domestic and wild animals. Upnd cadres, h.h alimilowa bonse?
Sinkamba if this is your kind of thinking after taking in a few puffs of the green stuff then I support you all the way. Maybe you could give some of the stuff to the PF government so that they also start thinking with sense.