Illegal Gold Mining Threatens Cattle Farm in Zimbabwe's Matopos National Park.
Matopos National Park, Zimbabwe - The government has sent security and environmental agencies to the Rhodes Estate in Matopos National Park. They want to stop illegal gold mining. The mining is harming a big cattle farm.
The Pilossof brothers run the 4,000-hectare farm. They are known for their Brahman and Beefmasters cattle breeds. Many cattle have died after falling into holes dug by the illegal miners.
In 2014, the Pilossof brothers made a deal with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to run their cattle business in the park. This would help preserve the park, which is a world heritage site.
But for years, more and more illegal gold miners have come to the farm. They dig pits and trenches. The cattle fall in and die.
Yesterday, officials visited the farm to see the problem. Paul Pilossof, who runs the farm, said about 200 pedigree cattle have died in recent years. Some fell into the miners' pits. Others drank water with dangerous chemicals like cyanide.
The pedigree cattle at the farm can cost between US$4,000 and US$8,000 each, and some bulls have sold for as much as US$13,000.
The officials saw over 30 pits in one small area of the farm. A few illegal miners stayed as the officials looked at the damage. The rest ran away or hid.
"We have been at the farm since 2014," said Paul Pilossof. "We keep having problems with illegal miners. They invade our farm and dig for gold. It seems like nothing is being done to stop them."
Pilossof said they may have to move their cattle. It's not safe to keep them at the farm anymore.
The provincial minister, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, said the illegal mining must stop. She said mining and farming can happen together, but only if everyone follows the law.
Officials are working to find out who has permission to mine in the park. They want to remove the illegal miners.
The Environmental Management Authority said the farm is one of the most damaged places in the province because of illegal mining.
The government is taking action to protect the cattle farm and the national park from further harm.
Matopos National Park, Zimbabwe - The government has sent security and environmental agencies to the Rhodes Estate in Matopos National Park. They want to stop illegal gold mining. The mining is harming a big cattle farm.
The Pilossof brothers run the 4,000-hectare farm. They are known for their Brahman and Beefmasters cattle breeds. Many cattle have died after falling into holes dug by the illegal miners.
In 2014, the Pilossof brothers made a deal with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to run their cattle business in the park. This would help preserve the park, which is a world heritage site.
But for years, more and more illegal gold miners have come to the farm. They dig pits and trenches. The cattle fall in and die.
Yesterday, officials visited the farm to see the problem. Paul Pilossof, who runs the farm, said about 200 pedigree cattle have died in recent years. Some fell into the miners' pits. Others drank water with dangerous chemicals like cyanide.
The pedigree cattle at the farm can cost between US$4,000 and US$8,000 each, and some bulls have sold for as much as US$13,000.
The officials saw over 30 pits in one small area of the farm. A few illegal miners stayed as the officials looked at the damage. The rest ran away or hid.
"We have been at the farm since 2014," said Paul Pilossof. "We keep having problems with illegal miners. They invade our farm and dig for gold. It seems like nothing is being done to stop them."
Pilossof said they may have to move their cattle. It's not safe to keep them at the farm anymore.
The provincial minister, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, said the illegal mining must stop. She said mining and farming can happen together, but only if everyone follows the law.
Officials are working to find out who has permission to mine in the park. They want to remove the illegal miners.
The Environmental Management Authority said the farm is one of the most damaged places in the province because of illegal mining.
The government is taking action to protect the cattle farm and the national park from further harm.
