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CLINTON VISITS ZAMBIA FOR WILDLIFE
Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) - Former US President Bill Clinton
and his daughter, Chelsea, on
Friday visited
conservation projects of the African Wildlife Foundation
(AWF) in Zambia, a visit that will surely put the
spotlight on the important work of the Foundation.
On Friday, the two - on behalf of the Clinton
Foundation which has supported AWF's anti-poaching
efforts - visited two of such projects, as part of
the ongoing tour of various programmes in Africa.
PANA quotes the AWF as saying Friday's visit took
Clinton and his daughter to a conservation-themed
primary school built by AWF, as well as a brand-new
community-owned tourism enterprise established by
the conservation organisation.
“It’s wonderful to have Chelsea Clinton and
representatives from the Clinton Foundation visiting
our projects on the ground in Africa to see how
people are trying to live with, and protect,
elephants,” said Patrick Bergin, Chief Executive
Officer of the AWF.
“The African Wildlife Foundation has a long history
of working with local communities to find
conservation solutions that benefit both wildlife
and people, and we’re excited to be able to show the
Clinton Foundation two examples of how we work.”
Explaining its anti-poaching efforts, AWF said over
the past few years, elephants in Africa have come
under increasing threat from poaching and illegal
wildlife trafficking.
It said more than 35,000 elephants were poached
across the African continent last year, warning that
at current rates, Africa’s elephants could become
extinct within our lifetimes.
"This is why programmes such as AWF’s are so
important, ensuring that communities can live
alongside, value and protect elephants," AWF said.
The Clinton
Foundation has been supportive of such anti-poaching
work and other efforts by conservation organisations
such as AWF to eradicate illegal wildlife
trafficking in Africa and around the globe.
Last November, former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton announced that the U.S. State Department
would put the issue of illegal wildlife trafficking
on its agenda, a move that cast a much-needed
spotlight on the crisis plaguing Africa and spurred
greater action by many governments against poaching
of Africa’s elephants and rhinos.
The AWF, which started off as African Wildlife
Leadership Foundation, was established in 1961 to
focus on Africa’s unique
conservation needs.
ELEPHANT-BACK
SAFARI OPPORTUNITY FOR
SUN INTERNATIONAL GUESTS IN ZAMBIA
Unobtrusive game
viewing in line with conservation philosophy. Sun
International guests in Zambia will be able to
participate in Zambia's first elephant back safaris
offered by Zambezi Elephant Trails which has
initiated this unusual venture in the Mosi-o-Tunio
National Park on the banks of the Zambezi River.
"The company is the first of two that will offer
these safaris in this area - the second will begin
operations early in 2003," says Boris Bornman,
General Manager of Sun International's two-hotel
resort near the edge of the Victoria Falls. "These
adventures will be an enhancement of the African
experience for our guests and are very much in line
with the conservation of wildlife and the
environment to which Sun International is
dedicated." Zambezi Elephant Trails' six African
Elephants, Madinda, Mushumbi, Marula, Lewa, Danny
and Bop each offer two guests an extraordinary
perspective on the mighty Zambezi River. Guests
ride with their guides on an exclusive Zambian
Elephant Safari through riverine vegetation and
beautiful scenery.
Located at Thorntree Lodge,
approximately 10 km from Livingstone, Zambezi
Elephant Trails has established Zambia's first
"Elephant Camp" - offering insights into
these gentle giants. Together with this
ecologically friendly method of game viewing, a
strong emphasis is placed on an elephant experience
rather than just an elephant ride and guests are
encouraged to interact with these most majestic and
intelligent of African mammals. Guests are excited
to be able to meet, ride, touch and learn about the
elephants &endash; and to understand their
willingness to act under instruction.
The Mosi-o-Tunio National
Park is resident to wild Elephant, Hippo, Buffalo,
Impala, Giraffe, Zebra, small animals such as Civet
and Serval and abundant bird life. While game
sightings cannot be guaranteed, there is a good
chance of encountering wild animals in a manner
which makes guests feel a non intrusive part of the
African bush. The training techniques used by
Zambezi Elephant Trails are based on the " perform
and reward " method as opposed to the controversial
" discipline and submission" technique commonly
associated with Asian elephants. The safaris take
place for a half-day in the morning or afternoon
and cost US$100 per person. Guests are
conveyed from their hotel, either the Royal
Livingstone or Zambezi Sun to Thorntree
Lodge
Upon arrival, tea, coffee
and cordial is served &endash; after which the
guide will give a short introductory talk including
safety aspects. The guests will then be introduced
to the elephants and their handlers. The trails
lead through riverine bush and shallow parts of the
Zambezi River onto the islands. Halfway through the
ride, guests will dismount and interact with the
elephants on the ground. During interaction, the
guide will give an informative talk on the African
Elephant and its relationship with man. Each
Elephant is under the charge of a handler &endash;
the guide carries a first aid kit and handheld
radio.
The Safari ends with a full
English breakfast or good choice of snacks
(depending which safari is booked) after which
guests may view a video of their personal Elephant
experience. Videos are available for purchase and
will be delivered to guests' hotels. Combine the
Royal Livingstone & Zambezi Sun with the Table
Bay Hotel, Cape Town, and the Palace of the Lost
City at Sun City!!
For more information, please
contact Lorenzo Giani, Sun International 1560
Sawgrass Corporate Pkwy, 4th floor, Sunrise, FL
33323. Tel 954-331-8135 fax 954-331-3252, or via
email at
Lorenzo.giani@sun-int.net.
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