Saving Zinave

In a lush National Park along the river Save, liberated from the ravages of Mozambique’s 15-year long civil war, a herculean effort is underway. Local rangers, hand in hand with neighbouring village communities have come together to restore Zinave National Park’s ecosystem back to its former glory and re-wild the area. Although poaching remains a big issue, the aim is to encourage tourism and bring in some much needed income. Intrigued by this ambitious operation, filmmaker Louis Otto joins the anti-poaching unit’s training camp at the Chachive vanguard post. Once he has learned the ropes he will go out on patrol with the rest of the unit.

When Louis begins his initiation, his first few days are taken up with intensive training about what to expect on patrol and how to avoid being seen by the poachers using camouflage. He learns about firearms, the methods employed by the poachers and the areas where they are likely to be operating. The odds seem overwhelming however – Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, corruption is rife and the rangers are badly underfunded. Government help is patchy at best. Their weapons, often old relics from the civil war, are no match against the poachers’ sophisticated communications and operations.

In spite of the odds, the brave men and women of the Chachive patrol remain committed to their goal of developing the park and also educating the local villagers about the importance of protecting their heritage. It remains to be seen if their efforts will succeed.