As our weather warms up, snakes are becoming more active. There is no natural way to stop snakes from entering your garden – using oil, wild garlic or other plants is not effective! Instead, keep your yard swept, cut your grass and make sure you have no rodents living nearby. DO NOT start a fire – at this dry time of year your could set your home or your neighbour’s house alight!
If you do find a snake, which you would like safely removed from your home or office, and do not want to do this by yourself, then call a Helping Hands in Snake Safety (HHISS) registered snake handler from the list below:
Learn more about snakes
HHISS have also recently published Snakes and First Aid in Snakebite in Zambia which provides valuable information on what to do (and what NOT to do) if you are bitten by a snake. It also informs you which Zambian snakes are actually dangerous as not all are! Along with how snake venom works in the human body which will help you to understand why traditional medications are unable to work in curing snakebites.
You can find out where to buy their new informative book, as well as discovering lots more information on local snakes, by visiting their Facebook page and on their website www.hhiss.com
In August, Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) and the Rufunsa GMA community finalised construction of their new initiative – the Mandanda Project (meaning ‘eggs’ locally). The local women’s group now has a new coop to raise chickens for eggs, supporting them through a resilient small business.
This project aims to help build alternative livelihoods for women from low-income communities in the Rufunsa GMA. The area has few employment opportunities and industries which, being so close to Lower Zambezi National Park, is at high risk from poaching and the illegal bushmeat trade. This is why building small businesses. which support low income families, is vitally important in this region. Stop Poaching Now also supported the project.
Pangolin Project
Also in August, the CLZ team, along with the DNPW and WCP, began the first ever tracking of pangolins programme in Zambia. They will tag and track confiscated pangolins, after they have been released, to discover more information on their lives and habitats.
This project was aided by Royal Air Charters, who provided transportation, as well as the Pangolin Crisis Fund and Tusk Trust.
New Park Gate Opens
CLZ was excited to announce, in a ceremony held with the DNPW on 3 August, the opening of Chavululu Camp and Gate. Situated on the eastern side of the Lower Zambezi National Park, a park gate, small office and housing for scouts had been built.
This infrastructure aims to deter poaching, decrease revenue leakage, and to promote human/wildlife coexistence through increased DNPW presence who protect both the park and the Rufunsa GMA. The opening ceremony was attended by several honoured guests including His Royal Highness Chief Mphuka of the Chikunda People of Luangwa District, the Luangwa District Commissioner, Luke Lazaro Chikani, and the Senior Warden Mr. Harrison Kayeyi. Both CITES MIKE and the Government of Japan were thanked for their support for this project.
You can find all CLZ’s Newsletters on their website and you can keep up to date with their latest news on their Facebook page
This year’s Elephant Charge is taking place this Saturday, 24 September, at a yet to be disclosed location, relatively close to Lusaka. So far, 29 teams have entered to take part in the challenging and demanding off-road course – with the winners completing the course in the shortest distance and raising the most funds for conservation causes.
The Elephant Charge is an annual 4×4 family friendly event held in the Zambian wilderness. Each team has to carefully navigate their way to all 10 checkpoints, while travelling the shortest possible distance across difficult, trackless terrain. It is not about speed, but about their driving and navigational skills.
Winners 2021
Last year, 22 teams completed the course, with The Camels finishing in the shortest distance of just 17.32km. Tipo Tinto, who come all the way from Mozambique, will be charging again this year to defend their ‘Spirit of the Charge’ title.
You might have seen the Teams busily fundraising over the last few months. The Team who raises the most funds for conservation wins the prestigious of the Sausage Tree Cup – last year BCP won it, raising US $ 60,000, although they failed to complete the course. The overall winners were the Autoworld Team, who completed the course, raising $16,700.
How to get involved
Supporters are encouraged to go along, to cheer on their favourite teams. You can find lots of information about all the teams on the Elephant Charge website and following them on their Facebook Page to find out this year’s location and how you can get involved.
The Elephant Charge is held annually, raising money for conservation within Zambia, mainly focusing on ‘conservation through education’. So far, since 2008, it has raised over $1,420,000 for 25 local charities and NGOs. Every dollar raised by the Teams is distributed to effective conservation organisations working across the country. Find out more by visiting www.elephantcharge.org
Bats Without Borders is inviting you to join in their new and exciting one day online event – Around the Bat World in 8 Sessions! – on Saturday 17 September 2022.
This online event will showcase the amazing diversity of work which is carried out by different bat groups from around the world. Their speakers, from Australia, Asia, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana and Europe, will each provide a snapshot of the work they do and offer lessons that they have learned along the way.
Their aim is to highlight the bat conservation work which takes place in different parts of the world and to inspire the creation of new bat groups, particularly across southern Africa.
The event is open to everyone from around the globe – whether you are an experienced bat worker or are completely new to the bat world. It will focus on inspiring people across southern Africa to find out more about bats and to consider setting up their own bat group. So BWB are especially encouraging individuals from southern African countries to join in. There will be opportunities for you to network and, for those of you who are already involved in bat groups. to share your experiences.
Programme and Speakers
Around the Bat World in 8 Sessions! starts at 10.00 hrs (SAT) on Saturday 17 September, with an introduction by Bats Without Borders. Eight speakers will then share the different ways that their bat groups operate and what they do.
How to Join in
Around the Bat World in 8 Sessions! is being held on Zoom. For the full programme of events and to find out how to register beforehand, then visit the Bats Without Borders website. Joining instructions will then be sent to you before the event.
As a charity, Bats Without Borders rely on donations to cover the costs of running their events, but they do want to ensure they are inclusive. If you are able, then please do donate which supports their conservation work.
For more information about Bats Without Borders, and to keep up to date with all their activities, then check out their Facebook page
Are you about to graduate and thinking about what career to go into? Or maybe you have recently graduated and are thinking about your next move?
Come and meet potential conservation employers from across the Zambian conservation sector tomorrow, 8 September, from 9.00-16.00, at the Nipa Conference Centre, Dushambe Road, Fairview, Lusaka. Free entry!
