To all our supporters,

It is with deep sadness that ZNSPCA have to inform you all of yet another cruel and barbaric capture of ten (10) wild Zimbabwe Elephants from Gwanda in Matabeleland South Province. The elephants were allegedly bought by Basil Steyn who co owns Elephant Experience in Victoria Falls. Chengeta Safaris of Selous close to Harare are said to be buying five (5)of the elephants from Steyn. The elephants were captured in October 2008 and whilst ZNSPCA heard “rumours” regarding this capture, after investigating both Chengeta Safaris and Elephant Experience, and asking the permit office at Parks for details, we met with the Director General of National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority who assured us that no permit for such a capture had been issued. We were obviously relieved to hear this news and assured ourselves that we had been given the correct information and since we could not find the elephants on both facilities we were confident that this cruel act had not happened.

Yet the elephants were indeed captured. Mike Le Grange from AWMC captured 4 elephants on the 21st October 2008 and another 6 on the 22nd October 2008. Reacting to a tip off, ZNSPCA found the ten elephants on Sondelani Ranch belonging to Steyn in the West Nicholson area last week. The elephants range from 4years old to two female elephants of about 18 years old. They are housed in a metal boma with no shade or shelter and are chained continuously, only being released for training. The elephants are sprayed with water during hot days to keep them cool.

ZNSPCA Inspectors noted that some elephants had old wounds on their legs which could have been caused by the chains as well as wounds on their foreheads. According to the information supplied to us, no vet was present at the capture or has examined the elephants since the capture.

ZNSPCA are returning to Sondelani Ranch in the next few days to revisit and monitor the captured elephants. We will be asking for veterinary reports on all the injuries we have observed and checking on the training programme in place.

We will keep all interested parties informed of our findings in this investigation.

Glynis Vaughan

Chief Inspector

ZNSPCA

156 Enterprise Road, Chisipite, Harare, Zimbabwe

P O Box CH55, Chisipite, Harare, Zimbabwe

Phone: +263 4 497574

Fax: +263 4 497885

Cell : +263 11 630 403

Think of the horror for these intelligent, family orientated animals.

For what?

Tourists to ride!!!

Horrible !!!

They are allowed to do this.... crazy

I have tried to get Glynnis Vaughan's email address - found one on a site somewhere - but it got returned... I would love to hear the latest news about these eles and what the findings of the investigations are...

BTW - Mike le Grange from the AWMC, does anybody know what this stands for? all I can find is
African Women's Media Center.. but I doubt that if anyone involved in the women's media center would go on to capture 10 wild elephants!!

I am new to this forum and came across it by pure accident, but what a very informative site!am so pleased I found it!

This is a perfect example for delivering a reason to abolish ALL elephant back safari operations.

First they tell visitors these elephants were "saved" and then when requests for EBS increase they capture them from the wild and torture them to allow bloody tourists to ride on them.

Bombard all the companies who offer EBS/cheetah and Lion cub petting with emails and post in every travel forum you can find so that tourists get aware of what's going on.
NAME the companies who allow such cruelty!

When you read posts at travel forums you often read how "cute it was" to touch these tiny cheetahs and lions or ride an elephant. As long as people don't think themselves about the cruelty involved we have to "educate" them and making them aware!

Don't stop NAMING the bad guys!

First welcome Ginnegap,
Have you tried a search on Facebook or similar?
Just a thought.....