Victoria Falls Helicopter Flights Disrupting Birdlife, Warns Conservationist

An environmentalist has raised concerns about frequent helicopter flights over the gorge below Victoria Falls, saying the operations are disrupting birdlife, startling flocks and interfering with their natural behaviour.

In a Facebook post, prominent conservationist Charlene Hewat said helicopter flights, particularly on the Zambian side, were causing severe noise pollution.

She said this was affecting flocks and disrupting key activities such as breeding and foraging.

“This helicopter from the Zambian side flies low along the Zambezi Gorge below Victoria Falls and makes one hell of a racket. On days like today, it has been down eight times already, and birds like the black eagle and the augers have not been seen,” Hewat said.

“We usually see them daily. Surely this has to stop. There was an agreement some years back that no one would fly down the gorge, and thank you, Zimbabwe, for adhering to the agreement. Now we look to Zambia to stop flying down the Gorge.”

Hewat said bird numbers were falling because helicopter noise reverberates through the gorge, disturbing their habitat.

“The birds are disappearing, and the noise you are creating echoing through the Gorge is horrendous,” she wrote.

Tourists from Europe, especially the UK, Ireland and Germany, flock to Victoria Falls, which remains Zimbabwe’s main attraction.

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