No more “state-approved ivory dealers” BEIJING, China; HARARE, Zimbabwe––All trade in elephant ivory is now illegal in China, effective January 1, 2018, except in Hong Kong, which is reportedly soon to enact a similar prohibition, to take effect in 2022. “From now on, if a merchant tells you ‘this is a state-approved ivory dealer’… […]
Tatenda the rescued baby rhino dies in Zimbabwe
Survived poachers’ attack in 2007 HARARE, Zimbabwe––For nearly a decade the baby black rhino Tatenda was an internationally known symbol of hope for Zimbabwean wildlife and for black rhinos as a species, but no more. “It is with great sadness that we have to report that our beloved Tatenda has passed away,” e-mailed Zimbabwe Conservation Task […]
Zimbabwe sells wildlife to Chinese zoo empire
But the traffic does not go unseen HARARE, Zimbabwe––Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force founder Johnny Rodrigues had surgery on March 10, 2016, lost his wife Cheryl on March 30, 2016, contracted an e-coli infection in Washington D.C. on July 30, 2016, and was nearly bankrupted by unexpected hospital costs, but after months of mourning and relative […]
Zimbabwean animal advocate Cheryl Rodrigues, 59
Co-founded Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force Cheryl Ann Rodrigues, 59, instrumental in making the Cecil the lion poaching case known worldwide in mid-2015, died in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 29, 2016. “We have lost one of the best conservationists on this earth,” e-mailed Johnny Rodrigues, her husband of 41 years, who with his wife cofounded the […]
Cecil-the-lion killer Walter James Palmer walks
But photo safari guide killed by lion in destabilized population paid the ultimate price HARARE, Zimbabwe––Zimbabwe environment minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri on October 12, 2015 announced that Minneapolis dentist Walter James Palmer, 55, will not be charged for killing Cecil the lion during an early July 2015 trophy hunt. Cecil had been perhaps the most photographed […]
Killing the most famous Cecil in Zimbabwe since Rhodes of Rhodesia
“I’m a-comin’, Cecil lad!” (See also How the Cecil killing helps Mugabe to squeeze more money out of trophy hunters.) Few people today remember Cecil the puppet sea serpent, who starred from 1949 to 1962 in various incarnations of the satirical “Beany & Cecil” radio and television broadcasts. Nominally produced for children, the “Beany & Cecil” […]
“Elephant Lady” of Zimbabwe dies
“She devoted her whole life to wildlife” Theresa Warth, the “Elephant Lady” of Wasara Game Ranch, Chiredzi Conservancy, Zimbabwe, died on June 2, 2015. “We do not know any details yet,” posted Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force founder Johnny Rodrigues, “but it seems she was in Harare and collapsed. For those who did not know Theresa, […]
Zimbabwe defends export of elephants
by Johnny Rodrigues 12th January 2015 Acting Zimbabwe environment minister Walter Mzembi has stated that Zimbabwe will not be deterred from exporting 62 baby elephants to China, France, and the United Arab Emirates. Mzembi said that Zimbabwe has in excess of 80 000 elephants, but only has the capacity for 42,000. We don’t believe this […]
Update re: Baby elephants captured for export to China
8th December 2014 UPDATE ON ELEPHANTS CAPTURED FOR EXPORT Further to our last report, http://wp.me/p4pKmM-WQ, we have now been informed that 36 elephants have been captured for export to China. Of the 36, one has already died and the meat was shared out between the people at the boma. We are extremely distressed that the […]
Ian Player, 87, saved South African rhinos from extinction, only to see them at risk again
“Player was a true gentleman and one of the best conservationists in Africa” JOHANNESBURG, South Africa––“We were deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Ian Player passed away this morning after suffering a stroke last week,” Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force chair Johnny Rodrigues e-mailed to ANIMALS 24-7 early on November 30, 2014, seven hours before […]