Choose a sustainable travel experience at Imire
We encourage people to reflect on the need for more sustainable travel. To visit places which support community empowerment and wildlife conservation, and support conservancies that offer a holistic experience.
- Published in Conservation, Updates, Volunteers
Who was Norman Travers?
Norman Travers started the Imire we know and love today, taking it from a cattle and tobacco farm, to a world-renowned wildlife conservancy dedicated to black rhino protection.
- Published in People Of Imire, Updates
An update on Murwi, our Anti-Poaching Dog
- Published in Conservation, People Of Imire, Rhino, Updates
New baby rhino calf at Imire!
Exciting black rhino update!
One of our female black rhino, Kamuchacha has just given birth to her second calf!
As many of you know, most of our rhino are now free-roaming around the conservancy. Kamchacha is not allowing us a close up of her new baby yet, but any sighting is a good sighting and this glimpse was caught on video early this morning. Our newest addition has been named “Khanya” meaning ‘Light’ in Ndebele by ProFeeds Zimbabwe, whose continual support is invaluable and so deeply appreciated by Imire.
Thank you also to our incredible scouts – every rhino birth is testament to your dedication and passion. With fewer than 600 black rhino remaining in Zimbabwe, every new birth is truly a victory for the conservation efforts in this country. Thank you to everyone involved!
Stay tuned for updates on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
For more information about visiting Imire or volunteering, please click the relevant links on our website.
- Published in Conservation, Rhino, Updates
Game Capture
Imire strives to remain at the forefront of conservation in Zimbabwe. One of the most important roles of small conservancies is as a breeding nucleus for vital wildlife gene pools. Game capture and relocation is an essential part of conservation management and a perfect solution for the animals’ best interests for three reasons.Imire strives to remain at the forefront of conservation in Zimbabwe. One of the most important roles of small conservancies is as a breeding nucleus for vital wildlife gene pools. Game capture and relocation is an essential part of conservation management and a perfect solution for the animals’ best interests for three reasons.
1. Repopulation of wilderness areas where the species have been decimated through uncontrolled poaching
2. Strengthening and mixing the current gene pools between conservancy and wild populations.
3. Prevention of inbreeding in conservancy populations and velt management reducing possibilities of over grazing during the harsher dry seasons.
Imire is proud to have taken part in a ground-breaking capture involving sending healthy and viable population of more than 250 individual animals, including, Impala, Blesbok, wildebeest and warthog, from Zimbabwe to repopulate newly protected conservation areas all the way in DRC!The captures were carried out in two ways, with nets and with a make shift funnel leading directly into the truck. The net captures were undoubtedly voted the most adrenaline producing and exciting for our volutneers, definitely a once in a lifetime experience for us all.
The volunteers assisted the game capture team constructing a make shift rounded net with a radius of about 500m with an opening and curtains. We hid amongst tress within the net boma and waited. Working closely alongside the the incredibly talented capture team from AMWC volunteers and staff rounded up these animals, 10-20 at a time, like a cattle dog with sheep, and herded them into the boma. With the sounding siren, the curtain was closed, forming a boxed enclosure. The animals sprinted in all directions, eventually hitting the edges of the netted space.
This was the cue for “capturers” to run. Moving as fast as their legs would allow toward the animals fighting against the perimeters. We grabbed their legs, our partner blindfolding them to relax their strongest sense, and held them tightly. After a light sedative to help make the process as calm as possible we hoisted them onto our shoulders and carried the soon to be travelling animals, to the straw lined trucks. Next stop, the Congo.
Game capture was exciting, overwhelming, emotionally and physically testing for us all. An unbelievable experience for the team and volunteers at Imire. All involved will undoubtedly remember this unique time for many years to come, forever grateful to have been involved!
- Published in Conservation, Rhino