IMIRE - The truth about what happened at Imire

Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force speaks from the heart as only he can, in plain English, without fancy camera angles or editing. This is raw "on the ground footage" of the tragedy of Imire. Listen to Judy Travers talk about the other Rhino and other game reacting to the death of their fallen defenceless friends. Listen to Johnny passionately explaining what really happened at Imire. There are only about 200+ of these prehistoric black Rhino left in Zimbabwe and we are losing around 5+ per month.

Just over 20 years ago, Imire Safari Ranch became the guardians of 7 orphaned black rhino. The purpose of this was to try and increase the population of the endangered species and over the past 2 decades, the Travers family have lovingly reared and bred these animals, successfully releasing 13 black rhino back into Matusadonna National Park.

On the 7th of November 2007, 4 armed poachers dressed in camouflage uniform, assaulted and tied up the rhino guards and opened fire on the 3 adult rhino in their pens. All 3 were killed - Sprinter, a male, DJ, a female who had recently given birth to a calf and tragically, Amber a pregnant female who was due to give birth in a week. Amber's unborn calf also died.

The 3 rhino had been dehorned 6 weeks ago in an effort to make them less attractive to poachers but nevertheless, the poachers tried to hack out the inch of new horn growth from one of the rhinos before being frightened off by the sound of a car approaching.

Imire Safari Ranch are now left with 4 orphaned rhinos including DJ's 6 week old calf and they are offering a reward to anyone who can lead them to the despicable people who were responsible for the massacre."

For a full report on this tragedy in Zimbabwe please click here:

http://safaritalk.net/index.php?showtopic=1389

www.safaritalk.net is a not for gain, non commercial, volunteer funded and run project highlighting wildlife conservation, environmental protection and social / community initiatives in Africa.

The video was taken by Safaritalk member Gavin Fahrenfort at Imire.

Imire Black Rhino Breeding Station can be found here:

http://www.imiresafariranch.co.zw

Full details of The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force can be found here:

http://www.zctf.mweb.co.zw

and on Facebook here:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15148470211

Save The Rhino International works to conserve genetically viable populations of critically endangered rhinoceros species in the wild. We do this by fundraising for and making grants to rhino- and community-based conservation projects in Africa and Asia. Their website can be found here:

http://www.savetherhino.org

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Johnny
• Rodrigues
• Tatenda
• rhino
• calf
• Zimbabwe
• Imire
• wildlife
• Africa
• endangered
• poachers
• safari
• big5

[Ainurah]

They're not gonna stop me, either.

The rhinos needs to be protected, at all costs.

They NEED to be, hands down.

[R3dp055um]

Much respect, but..

How can you understand a word these folks are saying? That motor noise or WTF it is in the background drowns out everything. Why didn't he turn off the motor and get out the damn car?

[Mavster101]

get out of the car man

[tfst4u]

John,

What a true great person you are !! A real Man.

Be Safe & God Bless you.......

[henniechook]

Pamberi Johnny.

I keep an eye open on whats happening there.

If I was still there I would be like the proverbial "Fly around......" supporting you out in the sticks.

Good luck, mate.

Hennie.

[wiernixie]

Go Johnny, hope that you manage to conserve the wildlife in Zimbabwe. You are doing a fantastic job.

Blicky