Sources allege that China has ordered a certain number of animals, including 30 lions. “So far, 34 baby elephants, seven lions and about 10 sable have been captured and are being held at Mtshibi Capture Unit, 7km from Main Camp. The elephants are between two and a half and five years old,” said the ZCTF chairman Johnny Rodrigues.
“Our investigators have seen the animals and tried to take photos but were not allowed. The security there is very tight. They were told that the animals will be sent by container trucks to Maputo in Mozambique where they will be transferred to a livestock sea freighter and sent on to China.”
He said it was unlikely that the baby elephants would survive the trip. “This is very traumatic, not only for the baby elephants but also for their families. Elephants don’t forget and this is very dangerous for future visitors to Hwange,” he said, adding that the ZCTF would do its utmost to prevent the export from taking place.
Post published in: News