STORY: WWF warns of drought's impact on Zambia's wildlife, calls for conservation measures
SHOOTING TIME: March 1, 2024
DATELINE: March 3, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:15
LOCATION: Lusaka
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. File shot of the WWF office in Lusaka
2. File shot of Lusaka street
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NALUCHA NGANGA-ZIBA, WWF-Zambia Country Director
4. File shot of flowers
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NALUCHA NGANGA-ZIBA, WWF-Zambia Country Director
6. File shot of flowers
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): NALUCHA NGANGA-ZIBA, WWF-Zambia Country Director
8. File shot of Lusaka urban road

STORYLINE:

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) issued a warning on Friday, highlighting the dire drought situation in Zambia and its potential negative impact on wildlife, while also exacerbating human-animal conflicts.

Nalucha Nganga-Ziba, the WWF-Zambia country director, expressed concerns about the imminent emergence of human-animal conflicts ahead of the commemoration of this year's World Wildlife Day to be held on Sunday.

Nganga-Ziba said that areas hardest hit by the drought would likely experience more pronounced human-animal conflicts.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NALUCHA NGANGA-ZIBA, WWF-Zambia Country Director
"So we see a lot of human-wildlife conflicts arising from there. But also, communities will be required to go and fetch water from rivers. And we know that there are crocodiles there, so those also become areas of potential conflicts. Therefore, the impact on this drought is very real, not just on humans, but also on wildlife, including food. So hence, there is a need to look at interventions that support both humans as well as wildlife in terms of addressing the drought and the emergency which has been declared."

The WWF official said that the organization has committed to the use of digital innovation to conserve wildlife in Zambia.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NALUCHA NGANGA-ZIBA, WWF-Zambia Country Director
"As WWF, we interpret the theme of digital innovation in the protection of wildlife through the work that we do. As digital innovation is very cardinal to the work and also that of the government and the other partners that we work with, therefore we use digital innovations in terms of monitoring of wildlife."

She noted that poaching and international trade were among the major challenges affecting wildlife in the world and that Zambia has not been spared.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): NALUCHA NGANGA-ZIBA, WWF-Zambia Country Director
"When I look at the biggest challenge that is facing wildlife today, there are threats to do with poaching, as well as international trade, which is a global threat. And Zambia is not spared. So on average, three people are arrested per month in possession of live pangolins destined for international markets. Ivory is also one of those highly sought-after wildlife products. Therefore, these, for us, are some of the key threats that we see that are faced by wildlife. But also, as the climate is changing, we are seeing a lot of humans going to encroach in what would be traditional wildlife habitats. Therefore, it's also exacerbating the human-wildlife conflict."

Despite these challenges, she commended the Zambian government for its political will in combating poaching in the country's 20 national parks and 36 game management areas.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lusaka.
(XHTV)