ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION TASK FORCE

Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.

Cree Indian Prophecy


24th July 2011


IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!

Hello all ZCTF supporters,

We are moving our Facebook group due to Facebook's recent archiving issues. Please take a minute to
join us at our new page to be kept in the loop. If you do not join our new page, Facebook will automatically remove
you from our current members list. We have no control over this. All we can do is ask you to please join the new
page. Please help us spread the word too, as due to limitations on groups, we are sadly unable to message all
Facebook members individually and your help would be most appreciated. Thank you so much and I hope to see you
all on the new page! Here is the new link where to find us:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ZCTF-Zimbabwe-Conservation-Task-Force/246013052094585

Thank you for your time and support.

Brigitte Rodrigues
For the ZCTF

10 POACHERS ARRESTED

We are very pleased to announce that Zimbabwean authorities have arrested 10 people for poaching and unlawful possession of elephant tusks and rhino horn that they were suspected of selling to buyers from China. The suspects who included 4 former soldiers and 4 farmer were arrested in 2 separate operations.

In the first operation, 6 suspects were found with 2 fresh rhino horns and the other group was arrested whilst trying to sell 4 elephant tusks in Harare. Both groups had approached a Chinese businessman trying to sell him the horns.

RHINO POACHERS EXPOSED IN SOUTH AFRICA

Marnus Steyl, a South African lion breeder and safari operator has emerged as a key supplier of millions of rands worth of rhino horn to a ruthless south east Asian wildlife trafficking syndicate. Steyl allegedly stood to make at least 16 million rand in just 13 weeks this year by supplying 50 sets of rhino horn to a Laotian company fronting for the syndicate.

It has been established that the Xaysavang Trading Export-Import Company - which reportedly operates from a hotel in central Laos - placed the order on April 23rd. The requisition which was signed by one of the company directors states bluntly, "1 month can shoot 15 rhino." Chumlong Lemtongthai, a senior Xaysavang director and Thai citizen was arrested 2 weeks ago at a house in Edenvale, Johannesburg. Lemtongthai's "man on the ground" in South Africa, Punpitak Chumchom was recently forced to leave the country. Marnus Steyl allegedly locates the rhinos that are to be hunted. The trophies are then exported to Thailand and Laos where they are ground up and sold on the black market for medicinal purposes.

Lemtongthai's arrest was the culmination of a year long investigation by the South Africa Revenue Service, aided by the Hawks.



Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Landline: 263 4 339065
Mobile: 263 712 603 213
Email: galorand@mweb.co.zw
Website: www.zctf.mweb.co.zw
Website: www.zimbabwe-art.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15148470211
Temporary website: www.zctfofficialsite.org.

The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force relies soley on public donations. Your donation can help to preserve the wildlife in Zimbabwe. If you would like to assist, please contact us.