Update: 5th August 2015
PLEASE IGNORE THIS POST AS IT IS INCORRECT -
See the correction above -
BREAKING NEWS - JERICHO HAS BEEN SHOT TODAY AT 4pm -
It is with huge disgust and sadness that we have just been informed that Jericho, Cecil's brother has been killed at 4pm today.
We are absolutely heart broken.
We will update you all as soon as we have more details.
26th May 2016...
Silent Auction - urgent appeal for help
My brother and I are trying to raise funds for my Mom's hospital bill after her passing. We have already spent in the region of $28000 towards the medical expenses and have to raise a further $13 095. We do not want to part with one of my Mom's paintings as that's all we have left of her. The next best thing is, if we donate some of our art to the ZCTF to try and raise the money.
... The painting is called : " Lady by the Tree" it's an original oil on canvas with an African carved wooden frame. The painting measures : 1m x 1.5m
The pencil drawing of the Kudu has been done by my brother Shane. Size A3 unframed.
Both pieces of art will be auctioned together. There is a reserved price of $6000 the auction will run until the end of June. Please also note that shipping is not included in this auction cost so the shipping amount will be added on to the final sale price. All insurance and duties etc will be for the buying parties account.
Please send your bids to galorand@mweb.co.zw or lorr@mweb.co.zw or private message me.
Hi everyone
Please join us in Washington DC on the 30th July 2016 for the Cecil Rally. This event is not to be missed!!! Guest speaker all the way from Zimbabwe Johnny Rodrigues...
Be there!!!
3rd May 2016
Please can everyone see the details for the CECIL rally below. We need as much support as we can get, so please attend the rally in Washington on the 30th July 2016.....Johnny Rodrigues is the main speaker. Let us all stand together and change laws to help save our beloved animals.
21st April 2016
BIOGRAPHY OF CHERYL RODRIGUES
15th December 1956 ~ 30th March 2016
20th April 2016
We would like to thank you all for the lovely messages and words of kindness and love during our time of loss and need. We really appreciate all the support. It has been very difficult to even switch our computers and cell phones on but we have to carry on with Cheryl's legacy. She wouldn't want us to sit and be depressed, we have to continue with what she started...we have to continue to fight for the animals.
With this said there is a massive rally being he...ld in honour of Cecil the Lion in Washington Dc on the 30th July 2016 and the guest speaker is Johnny Rodrigues. Please watch the beautiful clip made by Betty Hogan. Thank you Betty it's awesome.
Thank you to everyone for all the support once again.
To my Family, friends and Z.C.T.F supporters
As you all know I have lost the love of my life, my best friend and dearest soul mate...my beautiful wife, Cheryl Ann Rodrigues (whyte)
She was and will always be an inspiration to me, i will never forget her as she will always be by my side for the rest of my life. For those of you that had the opportunity to know such an incredible woman, i say you were very lucky. I always think of her as a diamond, she outshone everyone!
...A needle in a haystack she truly was...
I hope that everyone can join us in showing our respects and our utmost love to Cheryl..
The information for the funeral are as follows.
Venue: The Roman Catholic Church
Address: Cnr The Chase and Pendennis Roads
Date:Wednesday 6th, April 2016
Time: 10:30am
Followed by a wake at :
Venue: The Jam Tree Previously known as Mount Pleasant Sports Club
Address : 40 Bargate Road
If anyone needs to know any further information please contact +263772272078
Or whatsapp or messenger Gavin Randall or Kylie Randall ,
Thankyou for everyones messages,condolences and phone calls we are all so appreciative for all of your support...it really does help when you all visit us as we need all the comfort we can get,
We miss you Cheryl ...i will always love you with all my heart.
Im sorry to my family for this to happen ,
I love you all and hope to see you here to give our love to Cheryl ...
Please may each person bring a candle with
Thankyou ...
Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman of Z.C.T.F
ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION TASK FORCE
Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned....
Update on Cecil's Statue
13th November 2015
We would like to inform everyone that the work on the statue of Cecil has not begun as we have only raised approximately $1000 towards it. As you are aware we needed around $30 000. At the time a couple of people had offered the entire amount in one go but after we approached them, the offer fell through. For this reason unless we can raise the funds we cannot go ahead with the statue. If you did donate towards the statue and would like a refund please inbox me so I can send your funds back. We are hoping in time we will be able to raise the funds but for now this project is on hold.
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
14th October 2015
WALTER PALMER
It is with great regret that we announce that the Zimbabwean authorities have decided not to prosecute Walter Palmer for killing Cecil the lion. According to them, all Palmer's paper work and documents were in order so he didn't break any laws. We don't agree with this at all and we intend to try other avenues to have him prosecuted.
OPEN SEASON ON ELEPHANTS
The rate at which elephants are being killed in Zimbabwe is truely disturbing. Last week, 14 were killed - 3 in Matusadona and 11 in Hwange National Park. 16 were found dead in Lupande and 10 in Chakabvi in Nyamatela. Many of these elephants have been poisoned with cyanide. 14 tusks have been recovered but the other tusks were taken by the poachers. The problem with the cyanide poisoning is that other animals are dying as well. 2 vultures were found poisoned after eating the carcass of one of the elephants and an eland was found snared. A packet containing 1 kilogram of cyanide was also found by the authorities. 36 carcasses were found near Sinamatella in Hwange National Park in the Dzivanini area. This totals 76 elephants killed in the past 2 weeks.
BIG TUSKER KILLED
A huge elephant with tusks weighing 122 pounds was killed in Gonarezhou by a German hunter. We suspect this elephant may have come from Kruger Park. His tusks were so big that they dragged along the ground when he was walking.
The most disapponting thing is that when a local Zimbabwean kills an animal for food for his family, he is sentenced to between 5 and 15 years in prison but when a wealthy foreign hunter comes in and shoots an animal, he gets away with it. What message are we giving the people?
Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Landline: 263 4 339065
Mobile: 263 712 603 213
Email: galorand@mweb.co.zw
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ZCTF-Zimbabwe-Conservation-Task-Force/246013052094585
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.
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
2nd October 2015
APOLOGY
In our newsletter of 18th September the first paragraph dealt with a report concerning animal skins seen on a truck bearing the insignia of Mashonaland Tobacco, and suggesting that this might indicate that elephant skins are being shipped to China in tobacco containers, possibly underneath the tobacco.
We now accept that the vehicle in question was not one belonging to or connected with Mashonaland Tobacco, and that the implication that Mashonaland Tobacco might be a party to the unlawful contraband in wild animal products is completely without foundation. We acknowledge that we ought to have checked this story with Mashonaland Tobacco prior to issuing our newsletter, and we unreservedly apologise to the company for the publication of the news item.
The driver of the vehicle was Gilmore Masakwa and the vehicle registration was ACN 4587. He is apparently a member of the police force.
ELEPHANTS POISONED
Three elephants were found poisoned with cyanide in the Kariba area. One was still alive but had to be shot because it quite obviously was not going to survive. It is heartbreaking to see this type of cruelty to our wildlife.
Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Landline: 263 4 339065
Mobile: 263 712 603 213
Email: galorand@mweb.co.zw
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ZCTF-Zimbabwe-Conservation-Task-Force/246013052094585
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.
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
18th September 2015
ELEPHANT SKINS SEEN
An informer reported to us recently that he was at Chase Motors Service Station, parked behind a one ton pick-up with Mashonaland Tobacco Company written on the door. The truck was loaded with something and the informant realised it was elephant skins so he took photos of it. This is quite suspicious because it could mean that elephant skins are being shipped to China in tobacco containers, possibly underneath the tobacco. The photos are attached.
ELEPHANTS KILLED
We have received a report that 10 elephants were recently killed to the west of Tsholotsho by 2 top government officials. The elephants were decapitated and the tusks were taken.
PEOPLE KILLED BY ANIMALS
A tour guide was taking a group of tourists around Hwange National Park and they came across a pride of lions. We are not sure what happened but the tour guide was charged and killed by one of the lions.
In another incident, a hunter was hunting buffalo in the Mana Pools area. He shot a buffalo but didn't kill him. The buffalo was tracked for 3 days and on the third day, they found him still alive. The buffalo attacked and killed the hunter.
We would like to warn people that these are wild animals and to be very careful when confronting them.
SABLE CAPTURED
29 sable were captured recently, 2 of which were dead. They were captured in Zimbabwe near the Limpopo River, trying to make a crossing into South Africa without going through the border post. Theo Bronkhorst was arrested in connection with this but has since been released on $100 bail. He is still due to appear in court on the 28th September 2015 on the Cecil the Lion case.
Bronkhorst's property in Zimbabwe was inspected and 27 live sable were found there as well as many animal skins. He is apparently being charged with this as well.
RHINO KILLED
A rhino was killed in Midlands Conservancy, bringing the total killed this year to 6. 6 people have been arrested inconnection with this.
Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force
Landline: 263 4 339065
Mobile: 263 712 603 213
Email: galorand@mweb.co.zw
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ZCTF-Zimbabwe-Conservation-Task-Force/246013052094585
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.
One of Cecil's killers are at it again.......
https://www.facebook.com/groups/613784945336911/permalink/886901701358566/
Part 2:Birds for Africa
Everyone has had something to say about Cecil the Lion - the question is that when the brouhaha dies down; will the world forget this tragedy?
Many lions have been brutally hunted in recent years, but the reason Cecil attracted so much attention was because of the sickening and seemingly heartless way in which it was carried out.
...Cecil really had no chance against a host of conspiring villains, and that is why his death struck a cord in peoples' hearts around the world: Nature when man at his most callous, cunning and brutal ... has no chance.
That is really what Cecil symbolizes - our continuing encroachment on nature in the want for a trophy - his death seen by most as utterly meaningless. Only one's man's ego was massaged.
So Cecil has a far greater meaning to many. Through the history of mankind, animals have regularly been immortalised. Often though, the statue has far great symbolism.
We have the Statue of Guy the Gorilla at London Zoo; there are half a dozen statues of various animals in Central Park, and who does not know of Wall Street's famous Bull and Bear?
John Binda is Zimbabwe's foremost producer of quality metalwork sculptures, having exported product around the world. Zoos in America have sold his Meercats (Houston Zoo) In Malawi; the graceful Fish Eagle is captured inside the Reserve Bank. His work also won Silver at the Cape Town Flower and Garden Show for the sculpture garden.
Binda concedes that anyone can knock together a statue, the question is whether it will be a work or art or will it "capture to spirit and essence of the subject," he asks?
"Of course a statue can be made for a $1,000, but is it quality? Is it aesthetic? Will it be a lasting memory to Cecil, but more so to what his death represents?"
Binda said it was important that the statue not be made out of bronze as this would not reflect something that was truly Zimbabwean.
The final metal statue of Cecil will be hot dipped in zinc thus making it a galvanized weather proof sculpture perfecting it for the finishing true outer coating of Cecil’s colour.
The doyen of metal art in Zimbabwe Arthur Da Azevedo has this to say
“Zimbabwe is iron; iron is from the earth which is then fired which is love”
"In fact, one of the things the early hunters such as Frederick Courteney Selous noticed was the quality of workmanship by the njanja, the skilled metalworkers of the Hera people in early Zimbabwe.
A little bit of history on John Binda - the sculptor of Cecil's statue....images available of his beautiful work at the end of this report....
Birds for Africa
John and Debbie Binda
The truth behind canned hunting: Watch this trailer "Blood Lions" https://www.facebook.com/environmentalinvestigationagency/videos/10155737375620648/
Pleased to share the official trailer for 'Blood Lions', a documentary exposing the terrible truth behind the predator breeding and canned lion hunting industries in South Africa.
Find out more at http://www.bloodlions.org/
