Zim, Nigeria exchange wildlife notes

Zimbabwe has several wildlife sanctuaries

Zim Now Writer

Zimbabwe and Nigeria continue to cooperate in the wildlife sector with Nigerain President Muhammadu Buhari approving the remodelling and upgrading of the Presidential Wildlife Sanctuary to enhance conservation across the West African country.

Buhari’s statement comes in the wake of a week-long visit by Zimbabwean wildlife experts on an assessment tour of the PWLS, formerly called the State House zoo.

The Head of Chancery at the Zimbabwe Embassy in Nigeria, Tonderai Mutuke, recognised Nigeria’s potential in the wildlife sector and encouraged the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in this area.

The Permanent Secretary for State House, Tijjani Umar, noted that given the success of Zimbabwe in wildlife conservation, the interaction with the experts from the southern African country fitted into the “perfect picture” of partnering a sister African country that is knowledgeable in international best practices in the subject matter.

In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, the Assistant Director of Information at the State House, Patience Tilley-Gyado, said Umar underscored the essence of safeguarding the wildlife in the seat of government for recreational purposes and for rehabilitation, research, and knowledge sharing.

“We want a situation where animals are able to, can roam freely, and those not able to do that, for obvious reasons, would have enclosures that are internationally acceptable, which allow them to as much as possible live a free and unencumbered life, raising their young and generally enjoying safety and security of existence.

“They could also have the opportunities to express themselves, exhibit their social behaviours to the fullest and have their young ones in a very safe and secure environment,” he said.

Umar also recounted the role played by Nigeria towards the decolinisation of Africa, noting that the West African country was a frontline state in the independence struggle of Zimbabwe, with both nations enjoying cordial relations based on long years of cooperation on areas of mutual interests.

The Director of Maintenance at the State House, Joshua Apagu, recalled that the idea for the remodelling of the facility started in 2017, followed by study tours to some African facilities in 2019, leading to extensive liaision with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and some private organisations, including Wild is Life Trust, an organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and rewilds African animals.

He said that while the outbreak of Covid-19 slowed down the remodelling process, which resumed in the aftermath of the pandemic.

A veterinary doctor with ZimParks, Columbas Chaitezvi, said his team would submit a comprehensive report and appropriate recommendations after assessing the PWLS.

The other members of the Zimbabwean delegation were Wild is Life Chief Executive Officer and director, Trust Roxyanne Danckwerts, and Craig Danckwerts, respectively; Route Through Africa Managing Director Yvonne Janders as well as Amanda Gamuchira Vambe of ZimParks.