Alan Bunn

11 June 2025 A Save Valley Conservancy wildlife ranger, Knowledge Mudzimureka, has succumbed to the severe injuries he sustained in a rhino attack. Mudzimureka died on June 8, two weeks after the attack, which happened during a routine patrol. “On 26th May 2025, Knowledge, accompanied by one other ranger, was on a routine patrol, tracking a different rhino when they unexpectedly encountered a mother black rhino and her calf. The rhino cow severely injured Knowledge, who sustained wounds to his abdomen, particularly his left lung, as well as to his head, shoulder, and knee. “Knowledge was immediately evacuated on an…

23 May 2025 Cases of human-wildlife conflict continue on an upward trend in the resort town of Kariba, Mashonaland West Province. In the latest reported case, an elephant charged towards two construction company employees en route to work and gored one of them to death. The now deceased was identified as Cephas Murota, aged 47. Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Mashonaland West provincial spokesperson, Inspector Ian Kohwera, confirmed the tragedy. “I confirm a sudden death by elephant attack which occurred at Lomagundi Turn-Off powerline Kariba on May 21, 2025, at 0700 hours,” said Kohwera. He said Murota and his colleague, Gracious…

2 June 2025 RUNDU – A 16-year-old boy, Markus Amutenya, was severely wounded during a vicious attack by a hippo while he was paddling a canoe along the Okavango River at Kasivi village, in Kavango West region on Monday. This was confirmed by police chief inspector Raimbert Muronga, who said Amutenya sustained a broken leg while his cousin, identified as Haingura Paulus (13), miraculously escaped the hippo attack unharmed. “Both victims were rescued by the police and rushed to the Bunya clinic, from where Amutenya was immediately transferred to Rundu state hospital. Relevant authorities were informed of the matter,’’ said…

Zimbabwe is set to cull 50 elephants in an effort to manage soaring numbers in a southeastern game reserve, with meat from the operation to be distributed to nearby communities. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) confirmed the move this week, calling it a necessary step to ease environmental pressure in the Savé Valley Conservancy, where elephant numbers have far exceeded the land’s capacity. An aerial survey in 2024 counted 2,550 elephants in the conservancy – more than three times its sustainable limit of 800. Over the past five years, 200 elephants have been successfully relocated to other parks, but officials…

People living on the edge of a protected area in Malawi are taking legal action against an NGO that moved more than 250 elephants into the area, which they say have killed at least 10 people. Villagers near Kasungu National Park, which is Malawi’s second largest and crosses the Zambian border, say they are living in fear for their livelihoods and safety after 263 elephants were introduced in July 2022, causing a sharp spike in human-wildlife conflict. Ten people claiming to be affected by the translocation from Liwonde National Park have begun legal action against the International Fund for Animal…

Globally renowned South African conservationist and National Geographic Explorer, Vincent van der Merwe, who organised the transfer of cheetahs to India, was found dead in his apartment in Riyadh. No foul play is suspected. A Facebook post from Van der Merwe’s family read: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Vincent van der Merwe, a beloved brother, dedicated conservationist and tireless advocate for cheetah conservation. Vincent sadly took his own life on Sunday, 16 March.” The 42-year-old conservationist was internationally recognised for his role in cheetah conservation and reintroduction projects in Africa and Asia. He had…

KITWE, Zambia (AP) — Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia fear the long-term impact of an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that contaminated a major river and could potentially affect millions of people after signs of pollution were detected at least 100 kilometers (60 miles) downstream. The spill happened on Feb. 18 when a tailings dam that holds acidic waste from a copper mine in the north of the country collapsed, according to investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia. The collapse allowed some 50 million liters of waste containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids, and heavy metals to flow into…

A surge in crocodile attacks has claimed the lives of at least nine people and left 11 others injured over the past two months, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has revealed. In a statement Wednesday, ZimParks raised concerns over the increasing number of fatalities. “ZimParks has noted with concern the rising number of fatalities from crocodile attacks, which have resulted in nine deaths and 11 injuries in the last two months. “At least 44 cattle and 60 goats were also killed during the same period in 49 reported cases of human-crocodile conflict,” the statement reads. The authority…

SANParks management said the transnational syndicates targeting the animals are relentless in their pursuit of rhino horn. JOHANNESBURG – Thirty-five rhinos have been poached in the Kruger National Park in 2025 alone. This is despite interventions, such as dehorning, to deter poachers.  South African National Parks (SANParks) management said the transnational syndicates targeting the animals were relentless in their pursuit of rhino horn. SANParks special operations regional ranger, Bruce Leslie: “And even though we’ve had a huge effort in dehorning our rhino, in Kruger National Park and even in KZN [KwaZulu-Natal] wildlife, clearly there’s a switch to ‘Where are the rhino?…

I have been contacted by Irwin Greenstein, publisher of the 15-year-old online magazine Shotgun Life (www.shotgunlife.com) to write an article about a young American hunter’s African safari. Irwin is launching an online magazine called Young Awesome Hunter. It’s the first comprehensive marketing platform leveraging social media, youth programs, and advocacy to promote hunting, fishing, and shooting competitions for young people and their families, and is looking for writers proficient in those categories. The focus will be on young hunters, shooters, and anglers and how their participation has transformed their lives, either as individuals or with their families. It would be…