Friends of Hwange August 2016 Update

August 2016

Dear Friends of Hwange,

Apologies for the lack of recent news from Friends Of Hwange Trust. With the dry season well underway, an update is overdue. The good news is that much has been accomplished in the past few months.

Six new boreholes have been drilled, two old ones flushed, and 13 new solar pumping units have been installed this year, some on old boreholes and some on the new ones. Helped by lovely late rain in April and May, most pans are holding really good water and are looking picture-pretty. Kennedy 2 Pan has given us cause for concern for ages, with much erosion and convoluted digging from the borehole outlet to the pan thanks to the "mining exploits" of numerous naughty ellies. African Bushcamps has recently made use of a bulldozer to flatten it all out, and we have drilled another borehole there. A new solar unit will be erected on this hole very shortly, and together with the upgraded old solar pump this should do much to boost water levels in the pan. We were delighted last week to feast our eyes on the sight of numbers of impressive elephant bulls visiting the "bar" at K2, to rest and relish the cool, fresh water, and to bathe and wallow in the mud.

We have some way to go before our quest to 'solarize' all the pans in and around the Main Camp area is complete. Five new boreholes, and six new solar pumping units are still needed. We have also undertaken to fund a new borehole at Masuma in the Sinamatella region, as it is such a key pan, and a second borehole at Deteema Dam where herds of two thousand buffalo, hundreds of elephant and countless other smaller creatures are already drinking daily. The unit there is a hybrid, which means it pumps water using solar energy by day, and is boosted with a generator at night, but it is still unable to cope with demand.
As the trust, we feel that it is important to support the rescue of trapped animals from mud and snares. We are appealing for funding on an ongoing basis for both the immobilizing drug and the fuel needed to search for animals reported to be in distress. To watch the agony of an elephant calf with a wire snare deeply embedded in its leg or trunk, and a lion caught in a snare left to struggle and starve, is unbearable and unacceptable. We need to be able to act.

The medical clinic at Main Camp, which is run very efficiently, also needs our help. Clean as it is, it lacks even the most basic medical supplies. We believe it's very important to take care of the people who take care of the park and its wildlife. Should anyone feel able and willing to contribute towards this, we would be extremely grateful.

As always we extend huge gratitude to all who contribute to our cause. In particular, we mention the following:
Wild Geese Lodge for the support and awareness on our behalf at their annual Art Festival held in June this year and to the general public who support this event and donate so generously.
Wildlife Environment Zimbabwe, Matabeleland Branch
Save African Rhino Foundation
Hwange Conservation Society
Bodhi Tree Foundation
Animal Avengers
Cargo Carriers
Agristructures
Davis Granite
Colbro
Extra Ordinary Journeys
Simply Africa / Frank Zindel
Maree Noble / Elizabeth Stumpf Memorial Foundation

Plus people and organizations too many to recognize on a newsletter, or prefer to remain anonymous, but most of whom are listed on our website.

Thanks also to the Area Managers and staff of National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Zimbabwe for their co-operation.

All work done by the trust is entirely funded by donations, while the trustees donate their time. If you would like to make a donation to the trust, please visit the donations page on our website.

The trust sends out irregular newsletters about the work done by the trust and fund raising events.

Our mailing address is:
The Friends Of Hwange Trust
66 Nelson Mandela Ave
Harare
Zimbabwe