30th July 2015

Anti-poaching units flew on various exercises with the pilots including National Parks Officers, along with anti-poaching personnel from MAPP, BHAPU and researchers from ALERT, Saving The Wild and Parks Ecologists. Flights included patrols along the Kariba shoreline, the Matusadona flood plain and the escarpment. Multiple herds of elephant, buffalo along with numerous hippo and crocodiles were recorded.

 

11-14th October

FFW flew almost 21 hours with ALERT over Chirisa and Chizarira on a game counting exercise, covering some 1,780km of transects. Dr. Norman Monks was impressed with the suitability and cost effectiveness of the Savannah S for his research work.

 

4th November 2015

FFW flew over 14 hours with Dande Anti Poaching Unit (DAPU) along with National Parks Officers on anti-poaching patrols. DAPU works closely with the community using the CAMPFIRE model. The efforts of DAPU epitomise the effectivelness of working with the local community and through their efforts poaching has decreased dramatically in the four years of operations. The FFW pilot reported: ‘we are pleased to advise that, in more than 11hrs of flying covering approximately 1,500km of transects and flight lines we did not observe a single elephant carcase within areas covered by DAPU”. We wish to specifically thank DAPU and CM Safaris for donating fuel and accommodation so enabling FFW to take National Parks Officers up over the Chewore areas for almost 5 hours of flying time covering some 340 miles.

 

18-21 November 2015

FFW flew some 520 miles and 15 hours of surveillance flying for National Parks in Mana Pools. The acting area manager produced comprehensive flight paths noting GPS co-ordinates of points of interest. Eg: surface water sources. At this dry time of the year animals congregate in large numbers around the water holes and springs making easy targets for poachers. Anti-poaching patrols are planned according to these potential hot spots. We would like to extend our grateful thanks to Mwililunga Safaris for their assistance in ground logistical support and legendary hospitality.

 

26-27th November 2015

FFW flew a total of four hours covering some 322 miles over the Mana Pools UNESCO World Heritage National Park. This included transects and surveillance over the area of a recent poacher contact where National Parks recovered some ivory. Flights also included looking for a wounded elephant on the islands of the Zambezi, checking surface water pans after recent rains and transects locating and recording any carcasses and other points of interest. Flights were restricted to early mornings only due to the excessive mid November heat.