Walking in the shadow of Ghosts

It was a very sad day today. I received an email entitled "Big Tuskers PLEASE SUPPORT THIS CAUSE". The petition is from a Zimbabwean pilot who flies tours over Bumi - an area near Lake Kariba, renowned for its teaming wildlife, and the mighty Musango Bull elephant (pictured).

Sadly, the petition comes as a result of the great elephant being shot, LEGALLY, by a professional hunting organisation, despite it being a collared beast.

This hunter did nothing illegal. According to existing law within Zimbabwe, it is not illegal to shoot a collared animal (unless specially protected by the Minister).

Accordingly the aim of this petition is twofold;

1. To request the authorities, once the Minister has given special protection status to any animal, to take immediate and proactive steps to inform all hunters and hunting institutions of such protected status. The Musango Bull was regarded by many as part of Zimbabwe’s national heritage, and is now gone. 
2. To get the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters Association (ZPHA) to define their own ethical and moral standards in relation to collared animals, and specifically this elephant, and to fully investigate, with independent observers, in situ the killing of the Musango Bull.

In a country like Zimbabwe, where there is so much focus on its humanitary and political situation, it is the wildlife with no voice that is often forgotten.

How to support? E-mail a letter to musangobull@yahoo.com

For more info go here