Zambezi society appeals for donations for stranded animals

The waters of the Zambezi river are at their highest in decades, as three of Kariba Dam’s floodgates remain open. Only a few of the river’s sandy islands remain and animals stranded on these patches of lands are no longer able to cross. The animals are starving as most of the grass that might sustain them has been washed away, and some are already losing the battle.

Efforts are underway to rescue stranded and starving animals on islands on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean side of the Zambezi river. Donations of food, transport, fuel and cash have been ‘flooding’ into the Zambezi Society, and parks staff and volunteers have been transporting the food by boat to the stranded animals.

It is uncertain when Kariba’s floodgates will be closed, but to ensure time for the water levels to drop and for the animals to gain strength, the rescue effort will continue until the end of July.

All donations of hay, molasses and ‘enhanced’ game food products, transport, fuel and cash will be gratefully received. Please send notice of your donation or pledge to this special appeal email address: zambezisociety@gmail.com or phone Nicola Maasdorp on: +263 912 924043 or Tim Bacon on: +263 912 880523.

Online donations can be made through the Zambezi Society’s partners in the UK (Save the Rhino International) at this link: http://www.savetherhino.org/eTargetSRINM/site/568/default.aspx (select Zimbabwe – Zambezi Society as the Project and Buffalo crisis (Zamsoc) as the Sub-project).