African Wildlife Safaris have contributed in bi-annual donations towards the efforts of the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit for several years now and for the second time in 2013, matched dollar for dollar, all donations given by their clients towards the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit in December, bringing the total contribution for the year to a most generous US$ 5 932.40.
Based in Melbourne, Australia with representatives in Sydney and Brisbane, African Wildlife Safaris are experts in creating tailor made African safaris and wilderness and wildlife tours for both individuals and small groups. African Wildlife Safaris also has a Cycling Team that can be followed on Facebook HERE.
Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit was formed in 1999 by Charles Brightman, a local safari operator and conservationist, and Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Africa Albida Tourism’s flagship property.
Initially, the unit consisted of 3 scouts, but thanks to continued local and international support, 16 scouts now make up the unit. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge continues to wholeheartedly support the anti-poaching unit, actively assisting by sponsoring 6 of the scouts on the unit, and giving Charles and the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit as much back up and other support as needed.
15 years after the unit’s inception, the 16 full-time scouts actively patrol an area of approximately fifty square kilometres surrounding Victoria Falls, seven days a week, 365 days of the year, come rain or shine. The unit aims to combat poaching in all its various forms.
Throughout 2013, the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching has acted to deter subsistence and commercial poaching, as well as rescue and rehabilitate animals injured by human interference. 3 Warthog and 1 Elephant were darted and treated, with 304 individuals apprehended in the National Park estate over the course of the year for contravening laws of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. The overwhelming majority of persons (281) taken into custody were found to be illegally wood poaching. 223 snares were removed from the area. The Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit discovered 3 Impala, 3 Buffalo, 1 Elephant, 1 Waterbuck, 1 Kudu and 1 Common Duiker poached in 2013. However, if it were not for the presence, persistence and passion of the anti poaching unit, the count would undoubtedly be much, much higher.
The Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit is a non-profit organization, and as such, the unit depends on donations in order to continue to conserve the local wildlife and natural resources of Victoria Falls. VFAPU personnel comprise of ex-commercial security guards, and ex-game scouts from Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. The Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit operates all projects in cooperation with the Senior Warden, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Zambezi Camp, and the laws of the country.
Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit and Africa Albida Tourism would like to take this opportunity to thank all for the support and donations the unit has received throughout 2013. Without the continued support from Vic Falls Adventure Zone, African Wildlife Safaris, Elephant Hills Resort, Holler Trade, Ilala Lodge, Khanondo Safaris and Tours, The Larry Norton Gallery, Lion Encounter, The Victoria Falls Hotel, whl.travel, Wild Horizons, Wilderness Wildlife Trust, Zambezi Traveller, the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Going Africa Safaris and Mamba Media the unit would not be able to operate the way it does today.
It is due to the continuously generous support as that of African Wildlife Safaris, that visitors and inhabitants of Victoria Falls are able to enjoy the intrinsic beauty and integrity of the environment and wildlife so passionately protected by the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit.
