Why a Booktrail?
1990s, 2002: Rescuing the Stranded Animals of Zimbabwe’s Farm Invasions
Innocent Victims
What you need to know before your trail
In December 2002, Meryl Harrison moved a large audience to tears at the BBC Animal Awards Ceremony, having been flown over from her native Zimbabwe to receive their Special Award. There she told her tale of the rescue of countless animals caught up in five years of the Zimbabwean land invasions, as farmers and families were forced from their homes to make way for Mugabe’s ‘war veterans’.
Many had to leave their animals behind and that’s where Meryl stepped in…
Travel Guide
Zimbabwe
It was Meryl’s mission on behalf of the under-funded ZNSPCA to go into these destroyed farmsteads to rescue countless domestic animals and wounded livestock. Nandi, pictured on the book-jacket of this heart-warming account of her animal rescues, is just one of the many ordinary pet dogs she managed to save. The bravery of Meryl and her small team, as they overcame huge obstacles to find and return these traumatised pets to their loving owners, has earned her world-renown. But she didn’t do it for any human praise she did it for the animals, the innocent victims of human folly.
“The focus of attention was an ordinary little dog named Nandi. She never asked to be involved in the orgy of destruction around her. But she had no choice, The family in question, like many others, had been forced to flee their home with only the clothes they stood up in as they faced a gang of drug-crazed thugs were destroying everything on the farm that represented the white man. ”
Map of farms from the book
Booktrail Boarding Pass: Innocent Victims
Destination: Zimbabwe Author/Guide: Catherine Buckle Departure Time:2000
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