Man Jailed for Poaching, Now Protects Zimbabwe's Natural Resources
2024-09-03
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1A Zimbabwean who formerly hunted animals illegally is now in a program that turns such poachers into protectors of wildlife.
2Forty-seven-year-old Tembanechako Mastick grew up hunting, a tradition in his community.
3He also planted crops and raised farm animals, or livestock. But dry weather conditions made farming less profitable.
4So, he turned to illegal hunting, also called poaching.
5Then, last year, he got caught.
6Mastik had poached some small game from Savé Valley Conservancy.
7It is one of the largest private game reserves in Africa. Mastick was jailed for nearly three months.
8Now, he is in a program that aims to turn poachers into conservationists.
9Recently, Mastick was with a group of men.
10They found the den of some hyenas that had recently attacked livestock.
11The bones of the goats showed what happened.
12Some of the men suggested using fire to burn any hyenas remaining in the den.
13But Mastick warned against killing the animals, whether for revenge or for meat.
14He said, "I began to realize that animals are for the benefit of the entire community, so poaching is a selfish act."
15Spreading that message is not easy.
16Across southern Africa, conflict between humans and wild animals is increasing.
17Dry weather, illegal hunting, tree-clearing, and the changing of forest to farmland have pushed wildlife closer to people.
18Elephants raid vegetable gardens.
19Lions, hyenas, wild dogs and jackals target cattle and goats of farmers.
20Donkeys that work on farms are not safe either.
21Zimbabwe's parks agency said it has received three to four thousand calls about wildlife problems in the past three years.
22Tinashe Farawo of the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said the conflicts are likely to increase during the dry months ahead.
23Mastick remembers when there were good harvests of corn, millet and cotton.
24The wild animals stayed in the forest back then.
25He said the problems began after the country's land reform program went into effect in 2000.
26People started farming on land held by the Savé Valley Conservancy.
27The Conservancy said it lost 30 percent of the wildlife habitat on its 303,000 hectares of land.
28At the same time, drought hit Mastick's village. "...Lions began targeting our livestock. Elephants also became a problem, hyenas too," he said.
29There was not enough land to feed livestock, and people from neighboring villages crossed into the reserve to get wood.
30Dingani Masuku of the conservancy said, "All resources are scarce. So we have to compete (with animals) for those resources...The resources are getting leaner and leaner."
31Mastick often has to calm angry villagers who have lost livestock.
32He knows about the problem.
33He starts each day by counting his own cattle, goats and donkeys.
34Once he had 45 goats. Now, he has only 10.
35Wild animals have eaten the rest.
36Mastick himself has bites from animals including from a leopard attack.
37"Without crop harvests we have to turn to livestock to raise money for school fees, food and other necessities so people are justified to be angry," he said.
38But he added, "I help them understand that killing the animals is not the solution."
39Part of his message is that jail is difficult.
40His family suffered while he was in prison because he had been the family's only earner.
41Several of his 20 children stopped going to school.
42But in jail, he learned new skills including carpentry.
43Now, he makes chairs and tables in his workshop that have been popular with visitors and locals.
44Men visit his workshop, and Mastick tells them about conservation.
45He also speaks at village gatherings, funerals and community meetings.
46There is no information about poaching in the area.
47But Mastick believes the number of poachers has dropped since he started his efforts.
48Masuku of the Conservancy said people believe Mastick and gain hope from his work as a carpenter.
49He said, "People know that he has been through it, he has been there and that poaching does not pay and that is why he is reforming."
50I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1A Zimbabwean who formerly hunted animals illegally is now in a program that turns such poachers into protectors of wildlife. 2Forty-seven-year-old Tembanechako Mastick grew up hunting, a tradition in his community. He also planted crops and raised farm animals, or livestock. But dry weather conditions made farming less profitable. So, he turned to illegal hunting, also called poaching. 3Then, last year, he got caught. Mastik had poached some small game from Savé Valley Conservancy. It is one of the largest private game reserves in Africa. Mastick was jailed for nearly three months. 4Now, he is in a program that aims to turn poachers into conservationists. 5Recently, Mastick was with a group of men. They found the den of some hyenas that had recently attacked livestock. The bones of the goats showed what happened. Some of the men suggested using fire to burn any hyenas remaining in the den. But Mastick warned against killing the animals, whether for revenge or for meat. 6He said, "I began to realize that animals are for the benefit of the entire community, so poaching is a selfish act." 7Spreading that message is not easy. Across southern Africa, conflict between humans and wild animals is increasing. Dry weather, illegal hunting, tree-clearing, and the changing of forest to farmland have pushed wildlife closer to people. 8Elephants raid vegetable gardens. Lions, hyenas, wild dogs and jackals target cattle and goats of farmers. Donkeys that work on farms are not safe either. 9Zimbabwe's parks agency said it has received three to four thousand calls about wildlife problems in the past three years. Tinashe Farawo of the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said the conflicts are likely to increase during the dry months ahead. 10Mastick remembers when there were good harvests of corn, millet and cotton. The wild animals stayed in the forest back then. 11He said the problems began after the country's land reform program went into effect in 2000. People started farming on land held by the Savé Valley Conservancy. The Conservancy said it lost 30 percent of the wildlife habitat on its 303,000 hectares of land. 12At the same time, drought hit Mastick's village. "...Lions began targeting our livestock. Elephants also became a problem, hyenas too," he said. There was not enough land to feed livestock, and people from neighboring villages crossed into the reserve to get wood. 13Dingani Masuku of the conservancy said, "All resources are scarce. So we have to compete (with animals) for those resources...The resources are getting leaner and leaner." 14Mastick often has to calm angry villagers who have lost livestock. He knows about the problem. He starts each day by counting his own cattle, goats and donkeys. Once he had 45 goats. Now, he has only 10. Wild animals have eaten the rest. Mastick himself has bites from animals including from a leopard attack. 15"Without crop harvests we have to turn to livestock to raise money for school fees, food and other necessities so people are justified to be angry," he said. But he added, "I help them understand that killing the animals is not the solution." 16Part of his message is that jail is difficult. His family suffered while he was in prison because he had been the family's only earner. 17Several of his 20 children stopped going to school. 18But in jail, he learned new skills including carpentry. Now, he makes chairs and tables in his workshop that have been popular with visitors and locals. Men visit his workshop, and Mastick tells them about conservation. He also speaks at village gatherings, funerals and community meetings. 19There is no information about poaching in the area. But Mastick believes the number of poachers has dropped since he started his efforts. 20Masuku of the Conservancy said people believe Mastick and gain hope from his work as a carpenter. 21He said, "People know that he has been through it, he has been there and that poaching does not pay and that is why he is reforming." 22I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 23Farai Mutsaka reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. 24______________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26game -n. animals that can be hunted 27conservationist -n. a person who protects and manages natural resources, so they last for the future 28den -n. a cave or hole where animals shelter 29revenge -n. when a person sets out to punish someone who hurt them in some way 30scarce -adj. difficult to find 31lean -adj. thin or having little or nothing 32breadwinner -n. the person whose income supports a family 33carpentry -n. the job of making things out of wood 34We want to hear from you. 35Our comment policy is here.