PEACE PARKS PROJECTS
Malawi / Zambia TFCA
Wildlife Sanctuary (Bambanda Zaro)
The Nyika TFCA
One of the key factors in the development of the Nyika TFCA was to gain control over the poaching which has decimated many of the wildlife populations in the Nyika TFCA. The Malawi and Zambian governments requested Peace Parks Foundation to assist by providing park management support to the project. Thus in January 2005 a wildlife law enforcement advisor was appointed by the Foundation with funding received from WWF-Netherlands to initiate and implement the wildlife law enforcement and park management support project in the TFCA. Since inception, a marked increase in efficiency has been demonstrated in wildlife management and law enforcement activities. With the area more secure than previously, the existing wildlife populations will increase and additional wildlife species which used to inhabit the Nyika TFCA will be introduced. The Foundation has therefore, with WWF Netherlands' assistance, implemented a wildlife restocking programme. A tourism development plan was also compiled.
Nyika TFCA Wildlife Restocking Project
The establishment of a game restocking sanctuary extending across the international boundary between Zambia and Malawi was approved in June 2006 when it was also decided that this fenced area will be referred to as the Bambanda-Zaro Restocking Area. The rationale for the Bambanda-Zaro restocking concept was to create a joint project that requires inputs from both Malawi and Zambia and will deliver benefits equitably to the TFCA as a whole.In addition to being a source area for wildlife to repopulate the TFCA, the restocking area will also be used to generate income for the TFCA, and thus contribute to the sustainability of the TFCA. Although the restocking area does not have high potential value for tourism development because of the nature of the habitat, seasonal limitations on access, a lack of infrastructure and tsetse fly infestation, it is feasible to develop trophy hunting in the area which can potentially generate high income in a relatively short space of time. The funds generated will be used to support the wildlife law enforcement and security for the TFCA.
Following a site visit to the restocking area in July 2006, concerns were raised about the location of the restocking area and the possible blocking of wildlife movement between Vwaza Marsh and the Lundazi Forest Reserve. It was therefore agreed to investigate this issue further and during a helicopter and consequent ground visit in 2006, the following were established:
- The suitability of the area for wildlife restocking was confirmed.
- Reports of permanent water in the Luwewe River (in the Restocking Area) were confirmed. Several extensive deep pools were found in areas characterised by a narrow fringing riverine forest.
- Game paths lead to these pools from all directions. The pools are well used and wildlife in the area is probably dependant on the water provided by them.
- Three herds of roan antelope numbering 35, 20 and 2 animals; at least 8 reedbuck; a herd of 11 Lichtenstein's hartebeest; two kudu and two herds of elephant were seen in the restocking area close to these pools.
- Several elephant paths lead from the Luwewe River towards the Zambian border, and into the Bambanda area of Zambia.
It was concluded that the Bambanda-Zaro Restocking Area proposal should be modified so as to account for these findings:
- As the fencing of the restocking area could possibly deprive some animals of their dry season water sources along the Luwewe, alternative borehole-fed water points outside the restocking area fence should be provided for resident game.
- Fencing along the proposed boundaries (straight lines) would be impractical, and the fences would have to be re-aligned along ridges and watersheds so as to avoid unnecessary drainage-line crossings.
- The area south of the Kapemba River introduces significantly more relatively short grass habitat into the sanctuary on the Zambian side than was anticipated, and raises the prospect of including Cookson's wildebeest among the species to be included in the restocking project.
- The evaluation of the Luwewe floodplain indicated that puku should also be included in the list of species for restocking as there is adequate suitable habitat.
The Nyika TFCA Wildlife Management Law Enforcement Support Project is playing, and will continue to play, a key role in the Restocking Project. The Wildlife Law Enforcement Advisor is responsible for ensuring the safety of the translocated animals. This also includes providing training for the fence attendants, responsible to patrol the fence daily for signs of poaching and to maintain the fence. The fence attendants are also trained in the use of the VHF radio system, so that at the first sign of illegal activities in the restocking area they can contact the law enforcement scouts. It was agreed by the veterinary authorities of both countries that the translocation of animals to Bambanda-Zaro would be treated, for disease control purposes, as internal movements within the country and not as export/imports. This greatly simplifies the veterinary protocols and allowed the wildlife to be translocated immediately after capture. Various samples will, however, be taken and the Bambanda-Zaro Restocking Area will be regarded as a de facto quarantine area.
Managing the Bambanda - Zaro Restocking Area
The wildlife restocking area, including the electrified fence is wholly managed by a fully integrated transfrontier management team with officers from the DNPW, ZAWA - trained by this project and locally trained PPF staff. Due to capacity building over an 18 months period, this team was able to manage the restocking area themselves by the end of 2008. Management includes ensuring that despite widespread flooding the 32 kilometres of electrified fencing remains operational throughout the rainy season. After completion of the ranger training in 2008, a total of 12 Zambian Officers and 12 Malawi Officers were posted to the restocking area and the main Zaro Camp, Bambanda Camp and Kalindamawe Camp. An outbreak of Sleeping Sickness amongst staff at the BZS placed pressure on staff capacity during the first half of 2008. In total three officers (and two members of the public) were found to be positive. All have been treated successfully at Rumphi District Hospital and have recovered. Following a site visit by the Department of Tsetse and Veterinary Services in Lusaka and Chipata, a draft proposal for a short term solution was prepared. Testing has taken place in both Zambia and Malawi and an agreement has been reached where Zambian locals can be treated by Malawian state hospitals. A number of Zambian officers and civilians have been treated successfully by the Rumphi District Hospital in Malawi. Staff members are making use of mosquito nets and two fly traps have been put up at the entrances to the sanctuary. The long term solution would be to eradicate the flies in the entire eastern valley, a project which is under consideration by the three countries affected, namely Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.The wildlife introductions could be regarded a successful and after the first calving season after the animals were relocated, there has been a 20% increase in the number of sable antelope, waterbuck and impala, while zebra and puku numbers remained stable without any decline.