NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT RHODESIA AND ZIMBABWE 1928 - 1990 AN HISTORICAL AND ANECDOTAL ACCOUNT BY THOSE WHO SERVED Attached is a photograph of the front cover, the international flier and an accompanying note which, apart from detailing costs/postage, records the foreword by Dr Colin Saunders ex Chairman of the Rhodesian and Zimbabwean National Parks Board. Having taken some six years of research and work it is a large book (A4) 640pages - 700+photographs and 600 pages of text excluding the appendices; it is a limited numbered edition of 1500. It is a unique work covering as it does most, if not all aspects, of the Departments functions of yesteryear - terrestrial and aquatic research together with the many aspects of field and wildlife management much of which was pioneering work. Interwoven throughout are personal factual accounts and success stories of a conservation agency widely acclaimed as the finest in Africa and else where; also covered are the war years, policing and anti-poaching, journals/ biographies and portraits of men and women both black and white - role models, leaders and naturalists. The final chapter entitled The Beginning of the End offers some insight into disturbing undercurrents which ultimately led to resignation after resignation, a loss of experience, expertise and dedication which brought the curtain down… To view the contents and short excerpts of the various chapters please click on the link below and browse. issuu/lesmartens/docs/issuu_national_parks_redo/1 The book is with the printers in Hong Kong and should be available for South African and international distribution by order from Hilton in October; Being once again resident in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe orders and distribution will also be handled by myself and will hopefully commence mid/late November. With kind regards Mike Bromwich ________________________________________ 11.07.2014 NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT RHODESIA AND ZIMBABWE 1928 - 1990 AN HISTORICAL AND ANECDOTAL ACCOUNT BY THOSE WHO SERVED The above entitled book, a limited numbered edition, has gone to print and should be available in October. It is a unique account of the finest wildlife conservation agency the continent has ever seen. As records gather dust and are forgotten, this story is particularly poignant telling as it does of the people, men and women both black and white, and the country, firstly Rhodesia and then Zimbabwe, that pioneered conservation and sustainable wildlife management. * * * * * Foreword by Dr Colin Saunders (Chairman of the Parks and Wildlife Board 1975 - 1987) I am honoured to be invited to contribute the Foreword to this fascinating historic document. I am privileged to have known the majority of the characters whose stories are recorded here. To many of us, they have been special people, absolutely dedicated to protecting and conserving the increasingly fragile and vulnerable wild places and wild creatures that form our irreplaceable natural heritage. The reader will be taken through the lives of many of these “Parks people”, their tales of triumph and tragedy, achievement and disappointment, drama, frustration, and mischievous fun. They led very full and interesting lives. The stories of some of their hair-raising and often desperately dangerous interactions with wild animals (and poachers) are the stuff of thrilling real-life outdoor adventure. The personalities of these people have had two common currents coursing through their veins at their chosen workplace: passion, and commitment. The majority of them were assigned to field stations, often in remote and lonely and uncomfortably hot areas. Here their wives and colleagues provided essential support. They “kept the home fires burning”, and did much for the subordinate staff and their families. It is good to see their contributions acknowledged in this narrative. In their infrequent visits to town, these bundu guardians let their hair down and celebrated, often boisterously, with their families and urban colleagues. A sense of humour was essential. I have for many years marvelled at the diverse skills accumulated by the Wardens, Rangers, Ecologists, and Technicians in the Parks areas over which they held sway. Their competence in so many tasks is legendary: they ran the financial and personnel management and administration functions of the station; they carried out repair and maintenance programmes for the plumbing and the water and power supply systems; they also serviced and repaired the station’s vehicles and pumps and motors; they assisted the police in matters of security and law and order; their responsibility for “Problem Animal Control” required them to protect people of the district, and their livestock and crops, from large crop-destroying mammals – especially elephant and buffalo – and from predators such as the big cats, hyena, and crocodiles. Through this function, many of them became extremely efficient hunters. Although always very busy, most of them took a keen interest in the natural world around them. Not only did they learn a great deal about the ecosystems in which they lived; as “Citizen Scientists” they contributed a host of scientific observations to their Ecologist colleagues. On achieving maturity (an arbitrary age), or retiring, or emigrating, officers of the Department automatically joined the distinguished ranks of Daga Boys – roughly translated as ‘irritable old buffalo bulls who are content to spend all day wallowing comfortably in glorious mud!’ These Daga Boys have accumulated a wealth of experience in wildlife matters, and have over the years contributed much ongoing wisdom to their colleagues and successors. They have provided a substantial quantity of information for this collection of historical material about the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management. They have been a remarkable bunch – resourceful, resolute, resilient. We salute them. Their reminiscences and memories have been persuasively and efficiently gathered up by Mike Bromwich and his helpers. It would have been a tragedy if the records of their experiences and contributions had been permitted to slide silently away, neither recorded, nor appreciated. BOOK ORDERS - By email - mikebromwich1@gmail NOTE - Distribution is from Hilton, South Africa PRICE South Africa - R 750 plus R 76 postage where applicable. Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland - R 750 plus R 167 postage - payable at current rate of exchange. Zimbabwe, US$ 75 plus US$ 25 postage. Where books are brought into the country import duty maybe levied - to be advised on all Zimbabwe orders. Zambia and Mozambique - US$ 75 plus US$ 25 postage Great Britain & Europe - US$ 75 plus postage US$ 54 (AIR MAIL*) or US$ 75 plus US$ 26 (surface mail) America and Canada - US$ 75 plus US$27 postage (surface mail - Delivery approximately 10 weeks Australia & New Zealand - US$75 plus postage US$ 22 (surface mail) - Delivery approximately 10 weeks * Recommended METHOD OF PAYMENT AND BANK DETAILS - TO BE ADVISED Only on receipt of payment will the book be delivered or posted I look forward to hearing from you With Kind Regards Mike (01.07.2014) Email mikebromwich1@gmail
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:11:46 +0000
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