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By Jairos Tichaona Mataruse
In an effort to curb poaching in the peripheries of Hwange National Park, the Painted Dog Conversation (PDC) has encouraged local communities to participate in sporting and anti-poaching activities.
Community members in Mabale, Lupote, Cross Dete, Dingani and Main Camp (Parks Wildlife Management) are prone to poaching activities due to their closeness to Hwange National Park, hence the call for this drive.
PDC Conservation and Community Liaison manager, Dominic Nyathi said the organisation has established a Wildlife Sponsored League.
“We started the Wildlife Sponsorship League with 12 teams which we offered soccer equipment and the number has increased to 20 teams. We also offer refereeing allowances for those who handle the matches. We have also a trophy that was sponsored and monetary funds that come along with the trophy” said Nyathi.
Nyathi who is also the League President said the sponsorship began in 2004 and PDC chipped in with administration as well as bringing order in the league as sporting activities had always been there in the area but disorganised.
“Each team is given an animal name, and that will be a way of sharing information or knowledge about the wildlife.”
“We have engaged in sport with the locals whom we work with in removing snares which are usually set by poachers” he said.
The engagement of PDC with the local communities has brought some positive vibe in the sporting arena which led to Dete hosting the Rhino Cup Championship.
The organisation is partnering with Wild and Free Foundation as well as Jane Bubear, an international sports foundation.
PDC was established in 2003 in the small developing town of Dete on the boarder of Hwange National Park. It has developed a conservation model on research, direct protection, edutainment, involvement of local communities and international support. Indaba
