the oweneses in zambia

8/9/2019 The Oweneses in Zambia

1/26

APRIL5,2010

ElephantshavetheirprotectorsinZambiasNorthLuangwaNationalPark.Intheearlynineteen-seventies,MarkandDeliaOwens,twograduatestudentsinbiologyattheUniversityofGeorgia,wereseizedbytheideaofresettlinginremotestAfrica.Theyorganizedanauction,soldtheirpossessions,andusedthemodestproceedstobuycampingequipmentandapairofone-wayairticketstoJohannesburg.Whentheyarrived,inJanuary,1974,Delia,thedaughterofaGeorgiatruckingexecutive,wastwenty-fouryearsold.Mark,whogrewuponafarmwestofToledo,Ohio,wastwenty-nine,thedivorcedfather

ofafour-year-old

boy

named

Christopher.MarkandDeliahadscouredthemapofAfrica,searchingforasitesoisolatedthat

itswildlifewouldhavenoknowledge,andnofear,ofhumans.TheyeventuallyfoundtheirwaytoaplacecalledDeceptionValley,intheKalahariDesertofBotswana.ItwasaperfectspotfortheOwensestomakecamp.Thewildlifetherehadnotbeendepletedbypoaching,asithadbeeninotherpartsofAfrica,andthoughthevalleywasinmanywaysanunforgivingplacetemperaturescanclimbaboveahundredandtwentydegreesinsummeritwasdistantenoughfromthecapital,Gaborone,toinsurethattheywouldbeleftalonetodotheirwork.TheKalahariisvirtuallyemptyofpeople:theOwenseslaterwroteoflivingwithonlyafewbandsofStoneAgeBushmeninanarealargerthanIreland.

IntheirbookCryoftheKalahari,whichwaspublishedin1984,theOwensesdescribedtheirdreadfullivingconditions:Werationedourselvestosevengallonsofwatereachperweek,forbathing,cooking,anddrinking.Thewaterfromthedrumstastedlikehotmetallictea,andtocoolitfordrinking,wefilledtindinnerplatesandsetthemintheshadeoftheacacia.Butifwedidntwatchitclosely,thewaterwouldquicklyevaporateorcollectbees,twigs,andsoil.Afterwashingthedishes,wetookspongebathsinthedishwater,thenstrainedthecoffee-coloredliquidthroughaclothintothetrucksradiator.


2/26

Despitepenury,loneliness,anddrought,theyestablishedaviableresearchstation,and,overseveralyears,theygainedthetrustofseveralpridesoflionsandclansofbrownhyenas.InthemannerofJaneGoodall,DianFossey,andJoyandGeorgeAdamson,theOwensesspentthousandsofhoursrecordingthesmallestdetailsoftheirsubjectsbehavior.Earlyon,MarkOwenswenttoSouthAfricatolearnhowtopilotsmallairplanes,andtheFrankfurtZoologicalSociety,whichbecametheOwensesmostimportantsponsor,gavehimmoneyforasingle-engineCessna.HeusedtheplanetomakeaerialsurveysoftheKalahariswildlife,andheandDeliaconductedcloseobservationofthesociallifeofhyenas,learningabouttheirsurprisinglycommunalbehavior.Bywritingabouttheexploitsofthesepredatorsinvividandaccessibleprose,theyattractedpopularattentionandfundingfortheirwork.TheycultivatedreporterswhocametoDeceptionValley,andtoldtheirstorynotasonesimplyofcarnivoreresearchbutasataleofyoungloveinahardland.

InKalahariRomance,anarticleMarkOwenspublishedinInternationalWildlife,

hedescribedhisidealday:Welandinthegrass,mostlikelyinaplacenevervisitedbymodernman,andsleepintheopenunderthewing.NowandthenwewaketowatchthegentlesweepoftheSouthernCrossthroughthesky.KnowingthatnooneonEarthknowswhereweare,orcouldeverfindus,wefeelspecial,asifwearetheonlytwopeopleintheuniverse.

Buteventuallythecomplexitiesofthehumanworldwouldintrude.Oneday,whileflyingoverthecentralKalahari,MarkOwenscameacrossanenormousmigrationofwildebeest.Hefollowedthepathofthemigrationuntil,tohisbewilderment,theanimalssuddenlystopped.Stretchedbeforethemwasasteel-wirefence,morethanahundredmileslong,erectedbythegovernmentofBotswanatopreventthespreadoffoot-and-mouthdiseasetothecountryscattle.Manyanimalshaddiedofdehydration,andcarcasseswere
http://www.cartoonbank.com/invt/121836?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=NewYorker&utm_content=TNYarticlehttp://www.cartoonbank.com/invt/121836?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=NewYorker&utm_content=TNYarticle


3/26

strewnontheground.Asthesurvivingwildebeestfunnelledalongthefenceinsearchofwater,theyenteredahuntingarea,wherepoacherslayinwait.AsOwenslookedon,thepoacherskilledanimalsenmasse.

Wewatchedthroughbinocularsastheslaughtercontinuedalongtheshore,OwenswroteinCryoftheKalahari.Tremblingwithrage,Ipushedthecontrolwheelforwardandweplungedtowardthelakeshore.Thepoacherswerepreoccupiedwiththeirbutcheryanddidnotseetheaircraftuntilitwasatgroundlevel,roaringacrosstheplaintowardthemat160milesanhour.

MarkandDeliaurgedgovernmentministersandgame-managementofficialstoprotecttheanimals,buttheirpleaswererejected.Almosteveryoneweknewtoldustoforgetit.Cattleistoobiganindustry;youllnevergetthemtotakedownthefences,theywrote.Sincenoonewithinthecountrywouldlistentoourrecommendations,wedecidedtotrytopublicizetheissueworldwide,toenlistthesupportofprominentpeopleoutsidethecountrywhoperhapscouldencouragetheBotswanagovernmenttoreviewtheproblem.

Oneday,governmentofficialsinGaboronesummonedMarkandDeliatoameeting.Whentheyarrived,theyweretoldthattheywerebeingexpelledfromthecountry.BotswanawasamajorexporterofbeeftoEurope,andthegovernmentwasembarrassedbytheOwensescampaign.AccordingtoJonathanS.AdamsandThomasO.McShanesbookTheMythofWildAfrica,QuettMasire,thePresidentofBotswanaatthetime,saidoftheOwenses,Ifyoucannotoperatewithintheboundsofgovernment,whomyouareaguestofinthiscountry,toworktheseissuesout,thenworkelsewhere.

TheOwensesfeltroughlyhandled.MarkOwenslatertoldPeople,Theyfingerprintedus,threatenedus,treateduslikecriminals.WewerentallowedtocalltheEmbassyorgetalawyer.Welosteverything.Ittookalotofhealingtogetoverit.Bythen,theOwenseshadfinishedtheirgraduatestudies(MarkearnedanM.Ed.andDeliaaPh.D.)andgainedsomerenownfortheirwork.AftertheyreturnedtotheU.S.,theyenlistedanumberofpoliticiansseveralcongressmen;AndrewYoung,thenthemayorofAtlanta;andVice-PresidentGeorgeH.W.BushtolobbythegovernmentofBotswanatoreverseitsdecision.MonthspassedbeforeBotswanadidso,andinthemeantimetheOwensessearchedforanothergameparkinwhichtheycouldcontinuetheirresearchonlargemammals.

IntheNorthernProvinceofZambiatheydiscoveredaplacethatseemedtofittheirneeds.TheNorthLuangwaNationalPark,namedfortheriverthatformsitseasternboundary,istwenty-fourhundredsquaremilesofmopaneforests,grasslands,leadwoodandsausagetrees,andlagoonsfilledwithhipposandcrocodiles.Outsideitsbordersismorewilderness,thousandsofsquaremilesofforestsandplainsinhabited,likethepark,byagreatrangeofAfricasmostextraordinarymammals.TheprofusionofwildlifehasmadetheLuangwaValleyadangerousplaceforhumans.Eachyear,crocodiles,elephants,andlionskilldozensofpeoplewholiveinthemud-hutvillagesthatarescatteredacrosstheregion.

BythetimetheOwensesarrived,in1986,NorthLuangwawas,intheirtelling,anationalparkinnameonly,undeveloped,unvisited,unguarded,andinaccessiblebyvehicleformuchoftheyearbecauseofflooding.MarkOwenssaidofthepark,Hereswherecivilizationends.InalectureattheNationalGeographicSociety,inWashington,D.C.,in2006,hedescribedthechallengeofsettlinginNorthLuangwa.Wehadtofirstsurveyawayinfromtheair.Andwefoundanoldpoachersroutethatsnakeditswaydownthethree-thousand-footMuchingaEscarpment,hesaid.Sowesetaboutdoing


4/26

that...encounteringcreeksandriversandstreams,ofcourse,thathadtobecrossed.Andnowaytocrossexceptthesefootbridges.

InTheEyeoftheElephant,thebooktheOwensespublishedin1992abouttheirexperienceinZambia,theydescribedthemomenttheyrealizedthattheycouldfindcontentmentinNorthLuangwa.TheywerevisitingtheconfluenceoftheMwaleshiandLuangwaRiversforthefirsttime.Thefloodplainsnearandfararespottedwithwildanimals:sixhundredbuffalograzingacrossagrassyplain;fiftyzebrasamblingtowardtherivertodrink;aherdofwaterbucklyingonasandbardownstream,Markwrote.Wherethetworiversjoinisalargepoolcrowdedwithahundredhippos,theirpiggyeyesonus,theirnostrilsblowingplumesofwaterinthesettingsunastheytwiddletheirears.Afterourtanglewiththebrambleandthebrokenwoodland,Africahaswonusback.

Butwithindaysofmakingthetorturouslyslowdescentfromtheescarpmentdowntotheriverbasin,theyfoundevidenceoframpantpoaching.InTheEyeoftheElephant,inwhichDeliaandMarkwritealternatingchapters,MarkOwenstoldofaterriblediscovery:Mark,lookoverthere!Istopthetruckandwewalktoathingroveoftreesneartheedgeofthedeadwoodland.Fiveelephantskulls,bonewhiteandhalfthesizeofbathtubs,arescatteredabouttheareawithpelvises,legbones,ribs,shoulderblades,andotherremains.Horrified,wenoticeskeletonslyingeverywhere:onehere,fiveoverthere,sixthere.Thebastards!Ikickthedust....Nowweunderstandwhywehavenotseenasinglelivingelephant,orasignofone,intheeightdayssinceweenteredthepark.Wearestandinginthemidstofakillingfield....Althoughwehavenotyetrunintopoachers,itmustbeonlyamatteroftimeuntilwedo.Therewillbenoignoringthem,runningfromthem,pretendingtheydonotexist.Ifwestayheretowork,wewillhavetodosomethingaboutthem.

Whentheyfinallydidseeasmallfamilyofelephants,byariver,theynoticedtheirskittishness.Theelephantsaresofrightenedbyhumansthattheywillnotdrink,Markwrote.Atthismoment,inAugustof1986,wepledgetoeachother:nomatterwhatittakes,orhowlong,wewillstayinNorthLuangwauntiltheelephantscometodrinkattheriverinpeace.Inthelatenineteen-seventiesandearlyeighties,therewasaspikeinthekillingofAfricassavannaelephants,causedlargelybyincreaseddemandinAsiaforivorycarvings.In1979,therewereaboutamillionthreehundredthousandelephantsinAfrica;tenyearslater,thepopulationhadfallenbyhalf.Bythelateeighties,somecountries,includingKenya,hadfoundtheproblemseriousenoughtoinstituteashoot-to-killpolicy,allowingpoacherstobeshotonsight.Zambia,whichhadnosuchofficialpolicy,washeavilyafflictedbypoaching.Itscentralgovernmentwascorruptinplaces,andineffectiveatpolicingthecountrysdistantcorners.Forpoachers,NorthLuangwasisolationmadeitafavoredhuntingground.

HuntershadalwaystakengameinNorthLuangwa,buttheymainlyshotforthepot,killinganimalstofeedtheirfamilies.UntilthearrivaloftheBritish,intheearlynineteen-hundreds,therewereseveralvillagesoftheBisaandBembatribesintheNorthLuangwawilderness.Theanimalsthatlivedamongthemwildebeest,warthogs,impala,elephants,andbuffaloweretheironlysourceofprotein;livestockcouldnotcoexistwiththetsetsefliesthatareendemictothearea.TheBritishexpelledthevillagersfromthe


5/26

valleyinordertocreatethegamereserve,buttheBisaandBemba,whowererelocatedtotheMuchingaEscarpment,continuedtovisitthepark,toholdreligiousceremoniesattribalburialsitesandtohuntonancestrallands.Thesehunters,likemanyinZambia,didnotconsiderwhattheydidpoaching,andtheyresentedtheimpositionofWesternnotionsofanimalwelfareandanimalrightsontheirsocieties.

ButtheivoryboominAsiabroughtcommercialpoacherstoLuangwa.TheyincludedZambiansandforeigners,someofthemveteransoftheregionsmanycivilwarsandinsurgencies,andtypicallyemployedlocalvillagersasshooters,trackers,andcarriers.Theselarge-scalepoachers,whoshotforivory,forrhinohorn,andforthebushmeatmarketsinthecities,werearmedwithAK-47sandotherautomaticweapons,andoperatedinlargegroups.TheyweretheonesmainlyresponsibleforthedecimationofNorthLuangwaselephantpopulation.

AlexandraFuller,theauthorofDontLetsGototheDogsTonight:AnAfricanChildhood,andafriendoftheOwenses,saidthatthenineteen-seventiesandeightieswereadevastatingtimeforZambiaswildlife.Therewerelorriescomingoutoftheparkwithhundredsoftusks,shesaid.Allsortsofpeoplewerefundingtheirwarsusingtheivoryoutofthepark.In1960,theparkheldaboutseventythousandelephants;bythenineteen-eighties,thepopulationhadbeenhuntedalmosttoelimination.TheOwensesestimatedthatbythetimetheyarrived,in1986,therewereonlyfivethousandelephantsinthepark.Ivorywaspricedatmorethanahundreddollarsapoundontheinternationalmarket,andforthepeoplearoundNorthLuangwatheelephantsbecame,bynecessity,anindustry.TheOwensesestablishedtheircamponthesiteofanevacuatedBisavillage,andnameditMarula-Puku,afterthemarulatreeandthepuku,atypeofantelope,bothcommoninthearea.Ontheirwayintothepark,theyvisitedtheManogame-scoutstationattheparksedge,notfarfromtheircamp.Thestationwasthebestequippedinthevicinity;theOwenseswrotethatthefourotherstationsaroundtheedgeoftheparkhadonlysevenscoutsamongthemandwereunableeventomountpatrols.ButevenManowasindisarray.Onlyahandfulofscoutswerepostedthere,andtheyreceivedlittlesupportordirectionfromthegovernment.InMarkOwenssNationalGeographicSocietypresentation,hedisplayedaphotographofthescoutshemet.Theywerebedraggledandunarmed.Whocouldblamethemwhentheysaid,Hey,wecanthelpyoutogochasepoachers.Areyounuts?

TheOwensesrealizedthattostopthekillingtheywouldneedtofindemploymentforlocalpeoplewhowouldotherwiseaidpoachers.Thepeopleinthevillagessurroundingtheparkhadnegligibleincomesandsporadicaccesstosourcesofprotein.Inonevillage,Chishala,theOwensescreatedacollectivethatgatheredgrasstouseasroofingmaterialforhuts;theysaidtheyestablishedgoodrelationsthere,evenwithpeoplewhowereknowntohaveworkedascarriersforcommercialpoachers.InTheEyeoftheElephant,theytoldofagifttheymadetothevillage,fromtheair.Markswoopsinlow,asthoughheisgoingtolandonthefield,andatthelastsecondflingsasoccerballfromtheplanedoor.Itfallsamongtheyoungmenandchildren,andagamebeginsonthespot,Deliawrites.IcanseethatMarkhasdrawnanelephantontheballandwritten,PlaySoccer,DontPoachElephants!ThesoccerballsymbolizedtoDeliaabargainshestruckwiththepeopleofChishala:inexchangeforeconomicaid,thevillagerswouldpromisetocurtailpoaching.Overtime,theOwenses,raisingmoneyintheUnitedStates,builtasmallnetworkofgrindingmills,fishponds,andsunflower-oilpresses,withthegoalofweaninglocalpeoplefromillegalhunting,andfromprovidinghelptothebattalionsofcommercialpoacherspassingthroughtheirvillagesonthewaytothepark.Butoneofthe


6/26

scoutsassignedtoNorthLuangwasooninformedtheOwensesthatmenfromChishalawereservingasmeatcarriersforpoachersbasedinanothervillage:FromChishala!Icryout,Deliawrote.Thosemenwegavejobs,andthesoccerball?

ThemainimpedimenttheOwensesfacedwastheinertiaofthescoutsassignedtoprotectthepark.ThescoutswerenominallyunderthecontrolofZambiasparkservice,buttheywerepaid,atbest,irregularly,andwereinonlyintermittentcommunicationwiththeirsuperiors.Thepoacherswerewellarmed,andthescoutswereintimidated.TheytoldMarkOwensthatsomeofthemorefearsomepoacherspossessedpowersderivedfromwitchcraft;theycouldbecomeinvisible,orfordriverswithoutbeingeatenbycrocodiles.TherealizationcametoMarkOwensthatheshouldhelpleadthescoutshimself.Thispromptedstrongdisagreementswithhiswife:Hebelievesthatweshouldgetpersonallyinvolvedflyingpatrols,airliftingscouts,goingonantipoachingfootpatrolswiththeguards,Deliawrote.Iarguethatweshouldsupplythemwithgoodequipmentandencouragement,butweshouldnotpersonallygoafterthepoachers,forthentheywillcomeafterus.Intheend,theOwensesarrangedwiththegovernmenttobenamedhonorarygamerangers,atitlethat,theywroteinTheEyeoftheElephant,gavethemauthorityoverthescoutsinthepark.

Ina1990profileoftheOwensespublishedinSportsIllustrated,titledLightintheDarkness,MaryanneVollersdescribedthedifficultiestheyfaced:Shufflingpapers,repairingbrokenequipmentandpamperingthegamescoutssuckupmostoftheOwensesenergy.VollersflewwithMarkOwensashesearchedtheforestsforpoacherscamps,andshewatchedashetriedtoorganizeeffectivefootpatrolsofthepark.Allthescoutshavenewsleepingbags,bootsandrationssuppliedbytheOwenses,shewrote.TheleadscouttellsMarkthathismencannotgoonpatrolbecausetheydonthaveenoughcornmealandsalt.Youllgoonpatrol,oryoullbloodywalkoutofthispark!Marksnapsasheclimbsbackintothecockpit.

Toencouragethescouts,Markdevisedabountyprogram,inwhichmembersofteamsthatcapturedatleastfivepoacherswouldreceiveanextramonthspay.Bythispoint,hewasaugmentingthesalariesofscoutsregularly.(HedidsowiththehelpofwealthyAmericandonors,includingPaulTudorJones,aConnecticuthedge-fundmanagerwhoestablishedahuntingpreservenearbyinthelatenineteen-eighties.)Still,motivationwasaproblem.MarkandIhavetheauthoritytoorderthescoutsonpatrol,Deliawrote.Butwedonotwanttocommandthem;wewantthemtocomeontheirown.

TheOwensesotherworkfundingmodestbusinesses,beginningaprogramtoeducatechildrenaboutthewildlifeneartheirvillagesseemedtobepayingmoreimpressivedividends.VollersquotedDeliaassaying,Imagineuswalkingintotheseprimitivevillageswherethechildrenarehungry,andsaying:Ifyoustopshootingwildanimals,touristsfromAmericawillcome,andyoullhavejobsandfood.Wethoughttheydlookatuslikewewerecrazy.Buttheyvecaughton.

Bytheearlynineties,theparkshowedsubstantialsignsofrecovery.TheOwenses,operatingoutoftheparkandoutofanofficeinMpika,thelargesttowninthearea,hadtrained,fed,clothed,andarmedaboutsixtymotivatedscoutsinthepark.Theirsmallindustrieskeptpeopleemployed.Medicalcareforthevillagershadalsoimproved;overtime,theOwensessuppliedclinics,heldworkshopsinAIDSprevention,andtrainedtraditionalbirthattendants.Themostsignificantadvance,though,camefromoutsidethepark.In1989,theUnitedNationsConventionontheInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesvotedtobanthesellingofAfricanelephantparts.Aslegalimportationbecameimpossibleandlegitimatedealersabandonedthebusiness,thepriceofivorydroppedbyasmuchasninety-sixpercent.ThenumberofpoachedelephantsinNorthLuangwa


7/26

decreased,too;theOwensesreportedtwelvedeadelephantsin1991,comparedwithathousandtheyeartheyarrived.

Still,poacherscontinuedtoinfiltratethepark,andtotheOwensestheyseemedmoredangerousthanever.Wordreachedthemthatonebandofcommercialpoachershadtargetedthemforassassination,blamingthemforruiningtheirbusiness.ThesethreatsandtheshootingofanelephantneartheircampprovokedMarktointensifyhisantipoachingactivities.Forsometime,hehadmaderegularnightflightsoverthepark,insearchofmeat-dryingracksandthecampfiresofpoachers;hewouldflylow,intentionallybackfiringtheplaneandfrighteningawaythehunters.Nowhedecidedtoescalatehisefforts.InhisNationalGeographiclecture,heexplainedhisnewtactics:WereceivedaradiomessagethatBernardMutondo[oneofthecommercialpoachers]wascomingtocamptoshootelephants,tokillthem....ThateveningIwenttotheairstripwithKasokola,mymosttrustedassistant.AndItookthedoorofftheairplaneandturnedtheright-handseataroundandstrappedhimin,withashotgunacrosshislap.No,thiswasntloadedwithconventionalammunition.Itwasloadedwithaspecialshellthatshootsfirecrackers....Itshootscherrybombs,honestly.Anditprojectsthesetoonehundredyards,andtheygooffwithatremendousroarandaflashoflightandsmokeandeverything.Andtheyreperfectlyharmlessfarmersusethesethingstoscaremaraudinganimalsawayfromtheircrops...butofcoursepoacherswouldntknowthat.

OwensfinallyfoundMutondoscamp,alongtheMwaleshiRiver.Asheflewby,hesaid,thepoachersfiredontheplanewithAK-47s,buthedecidedtocircleback:Aswecameinthesecondtime,Kasokolawasready,andweputthefirstfirecrackerstraightintothecampfire.Iwassoproudofhim.AnditblewupanditblewburningembersintoMutondosnicenewtent.Anditwentupinasheetofflame.Andtherewereafewmoreexchangesofgunfire,himshootingatmewithanAKandusshootingbackwithfirecrackers.Buttheyeventuallydroppedeverythingandtookofflikerats.Andthiswassosuccessfulthatwewentontoraidothercampswithfirecrackersthatnightandformanynightsafterthat.

Marksnightflyingstrainedhishealth,andhismarriage.IamtwohoursoverduebythetimeIgetbacktoMarula-Puku,hewrote.Deliameetsmeattheworkshop,herfacepalewithworry.Mark,wherehaveyoubeen?Iwasabouttocalloutasearch.Ivebeenoutcountingdeadelephants,whereelse!Slammingthedoorofthetruck,Istompofftothekitchenforacupofblackcoffee.ForsometimeIhavebeenlivingoutofmycoffeecup,drinkingabrewsostrongitislikeathinsyrup.ThecaffeinegivesmethekickandthecouragetodowhatIhavetodo,butincreasinglyitisrunningmybrainandmymouth.Myfuseisveryshort.GordonStreeb,aformerU.S.AmbassadortoZambia,recalledMarksdevotiontotheanimals.WhenIwasthere,hewouldtaketheairplaneupinthedark.Hewasdeterminedtowinthisbattle,Streebsaid.PartofhismystiquewasthathewasRambo-ishhewouldscarethehelloutofthepoachers.Hewashellbent,hewassoobsessedwithgettingridofthepoachers.

DeliawrotethatshetoldMark,Imnotsurethisisworthdyingforanymore.Ifyourdyingwouldchangeanything,thenmaybeitwouldbe.Butitwont.AndIdontwantyoutodiefornothing!Iwanttostopthepoachingasmuchasyoudo,butyouvecrossedovertheline,andIcantgoonlikethis.ShemovedoutofMarula-


8/26

PukuandestablishedherowncamponthebanksoftheLuangwa,afour-hourdriveaway.Overtime,MarkandDeliareconciled,andshereturnedtoMarula-Puku.Markalsowasabletoseehissonmoreoften.ChristopherOwenshadbeenraisedinMainebyhismotherandstepfather;inhisearlytwenties,hebeganspendingsummersatMarula-Puku.Hewasstronglybuiltsixfeettallandtwohundredandfortypoundsandamartial-artsexpert.Hisfatherassignedhimtoteachthescoutshand-to-handcombat.

AsMarkandDeliagrewcloseagain,theybegancollaboratingonTheEyeoftheElephant.ItwaspublishedbyHoughtonMifflinin1992,andbroughtthemanewlevelofattention.In1994,theyreceivedacallfromJaniceTomlin,aproducerfortheABCnews-magazineshowTurningPoint.TomlinhadseentheOwensesinterviewedontheTonightShowandwastakenwiththeirstory.ShemettheminNewYork,andtheyagreedtoparticipateinadocumentaryaboutelephantpoaching.

ABCdispatchedacrewtoNorthLuangwain1994,ledbyaproducernamedAndrewTkach,withDeborahAmosasthereporter.Tkachreturnedinthesummerof1995,withMeredithVieirainAmossplace.TheepisodeairednationallyonMarch30,1996.Thehour-longshow,titledDeadlyGame:TheMarkandDeliaOwensStory,openedwithanonscreenwarning:Thefollowingprogramcontainssomescenesofviolencewhichmightbeupsettingtoviewers.DianeSawyer,whosharedanchordutyontheshowwithBarbaraWalters,introducedthebroadcastfromNewYork.Theywenthalfwayaroundtheworldtofollowadream,Sawyersaid.AnidealisticAmericancoupleyoung,inlove.Butastrangeplaceandtimewouldtestthatlove.

MarkOwensisseenearlyinthedocumentarywearingcamouflage,andwithapistolathiswaist.Itwaslikegoingbackintimetoatimebefore,whenallwasrightwiththeearth,hesays.MeredithVieira,whoisnowtheco-hostofNBCsTodayshow,wasthenthechiefcorrespondentforTurningPointandappearsthroughouttheprogram.ThisistherealAfrica,thewayitwastwohundredyearsago,DeliatellsVieira.Vieira,whoisshownaccompanyingtheOwensesonawalktoseeafamilyofelephants,describesNorthLuangwaasanunchartedwilderness,anddiscussesthedifficultiestheOwensesfacedincombattingpoachers:Formorethanthreeyears,theOwensesbeggedunsuccessfullyforgovernmentsupport.VieirareportsthattheOwenses,frustrated,decidedtoworkaroundthegovernment.

Theconfrontationwithpoachersbroughttroubles.DeliaOwenstellsVieirathattherewereseveralassassinationteamsthatweresentdownbypoacherswiththeintenttokillus.Imean,lionsdontfrightenmenearlyasmuchashumans.Vieirasvoice-oversuggeststhatthethreatscreatedtroubleinthemarriage,andDeliasaysofherhusband,Hewasjustoutthere.Icouldntreachhimanymore.Hehadbecomehedoesntlikeformetosayit,butIthinkhehadbecometrulyobsessed.

ThefilmcutstoMarkOwens:Toflyatnight,tobeshotattimeandagain,eventobehit,togobackupandkeepdoingitnightafternightwithoutwithoutamilitarytosupportyou,knowingthatyoureruiningyourmarriage

DeliaOwenssays,IkeptsayingtoMark,Ifyoudie,thenweregoingtoloseeverything.Thenwewontbeabletosavethepark.Iwassosickwithworry.Andyoushouldntloveanybodythatmuch,butIdid,soIjustreachedthepointIjustcouldnttakethatanymore.

Thedocumentarysuggeststhattheconflictbetweenscoutsandpoachershadgrownviolent.MarkOwensisseensupervisingthescoutsfirearmstraining,andatvariouspointsinthebroadcasthecarriesapistol,ahuntingrifle,andanAR-15automaticrifle.Later,heordershisscouts,Ifyouseepoachersinthenationalparkwithafirearm,you


9/26

dontwaitforthemtoshootatyou.Youshootatthemfirst,allright?Thatmeanswhenyouseethewhitesofhiseyes,andifhehasafirearm,youkillhimbeforehekillsyou,becauseifyoulethimgetifyoulethimturnonyouwithanAK-47,hesgoingtocutyouintwo.Sogooutthereandgetthem.Gogetthem,O.K.?

HeexplainstoVieira,Imnotcomfortableatallwithit.Imabsolutelyuncomfortablewithit.Sometimespoachersarekilledandoccasionallyscoutshavebeenkilled.

ThereisnomentioninTheEyeoftheElephantofincidentsinwhichscoutskilledpoachers.ButonTurningPointOwenssays,Onsomeoccasions,Idopickscoutsup,andiftheyvekilledanybodytheyarentgoingtotellme.

DeliatellsVieira,Itwasamoraldilemmathatwehadtogothrough.Butwemadethedecision:Yes,wewouldcontinuetosupportthescouts.

Thencomesanarrestingsequence,oneseldomseenonnationaltelevision:thekillingofahuman.Vieiraintroducesthescene:WewereallowedtoaccompanypatrolsinZambiaafterweagreednottoidentifythoseinvolved,shouldashootingoccur.Onthismission,wewouldwitnesstheultimatepricepaidbyasuspectedpoacher.Agamescoutinagreenuniformwalksinwhatappearstobearecentlyabandonedcampsite.Apouchonthegroundcontainsshotgunshells,andthescoutremovesafewofthemtoshowthecamera.Thescoutwaitsforthepersoncampingthere,asuspectedpoacher,toreturn.Anewscenebegins,andVieiracontinueshervoice-over:Ourcamerasbeginrollingagainafterashotisfiredatthereturningtrespasser.

Onscreen,thescoutisshownfrombehind,runningthroughbrushandcarryingarifle.Heapproachesamanwearingagrayjacketandbrownpants,lyingproneinasmallclearing.Themantriestomove,liftinghisheadafewinchesofftheground.Thescout,hisfaceblottedoutelectronically,firesasingleshotathim.Atthismoment,asecondfigureisseeninthebackground.Hisfaceandupperbodyareblurred,sothatevenhisraceisobscured,butheisdressedingreenandappearstobecarryingarifle.Thecameraturnstothewoundedman,andVieirasays,inavoice-over,Thebodiesofthepoachersareoftenleftwheretheyfallfortheanimalstoeat.Shepauses,andsays,Conservation.Morality.Africa.Then,fromoffscreen,comethreemoreshots.Thecamerastaysfocussedonthewoundedman,lyingontheground.Hisbodyjerksatthefirstandthirdshots.Thenitisstill.

ThenextsequencefeaturesaconversationbetweenVieiraandMarkOwens,whosays,Itstherealitythemessyreality,Imafraid.Vieiraresponds,Itis.Itsverymessy.Italmostgivesconservationaveryuglyname.Owensreplies,Butthatsthereality.Itsuglywhy?Isituglybecauseoftheelephants?Theyhaventdoneanythingwrong.Itspeoplewhomakeitugly.

Vieiraasks,Doyoufeelthatsometimesananimalslifeisworthmorethanahumanslife?

Owensanswers,Worthmoretowhom?Theelephantortheperson?Asktheelephant.Andaskthehuman.Youllgettwodifferentanswers.Inavoice-over,Vieirasays,MarkOwenscallsitahardeningofthehumanspirit,theultimatepricehehaspaidtoworkhere.ThefilmreturnstoOwens,whosays,Itsaverydirtygame.Itsameasureofthedesperationofthesituation,Ithink.

Vieiradoesnotindicatewhethershe,herproducer,andhercameramantriedtolearntheidentityofthedeadman,orwhetherhewasameatpoacher,acommercialpoacher,orsimplyatrespasser,asshecallshim.Theexecutionoftheallegedpoacherisnotmentionedintheremainingtwenty-fiveminutesofthebroadcast.


10/26

Thedocumentarywaswellreceivedbycritics.IntheWashingtonPost,TomShalespraisedtheprogram,aswellastheworkoftheOwenses.Somebodyhastocare,hewrote.Inthiscase,MarkandDeliaOwensdo.TheyhavegiventheirlivesovertoapassionatecampaigntosaveendangeredAfricanelephants.Shalesdoesnotmentionthekillingoftheallegedpoacher,andwritesthattheshowmakesapersuasivecasefordoingwhatevercanbedonetokeepwildlifesafe.

Apparently,though,DeadlyGamedidnotsitwellwithsomeoftheOwensessupporters.InanApril,1996,lettertodonors,MarkandDeliawrote,Weknowthatafewofyouareconcernedaboutsomeofthefootagefromthatprogram,andwewanttoeaseyourminds.Theygoon,TheshoottokillpolicyisonlyusedbyZambiangovernmentGameScoutsinselfdefense.ItisNOTapolicyofourproject.Theyalsowrite,Wewerenotinvolvedinthisincident,orinanyotherincidentofthisnature.

Inanotherletter,writtenthatsamemonth,theadministrativedirectoroftheOwensFoundation,MaryDykes,whoisDeliaOwensssister-in-law,wrote,ABCwaslookingforsensationalism.Theyinsistedongoingonpatrolwiththegamescoutsaloneoverandoverbutneversaidwhattheyhadencountered.Wewerejustshocked.Dykeswenton,Fromwhatwehavebeenabletofindoutabouttheincident,thescoutsfeltsoprotectiveoftheunarmedcameraandsoundpeoplethattheykilledthepoacherwhowas,indeed,heavilyarmedand,accordingtoZambianlaw,subjecttoshoottokill.

ButthereisnoevidenceinDeadlyGamethattheallegedpoacherwasheavilyarmed,orarmedatall,whenhewasshot,anditisbynomeansclearthatZambiatoleratedthekillingofpoachers.TheABCprogramassertedthatZambiahadanunwrittenshoot-to-killpolicy,andtheOwenseslatersaidthataformertourismministernamedChristonTembovisitedtheNorthLuangwaareashortlybeforetheABCcrewarrivedandtoldscoutsthattheycouldshootpoachers.ButZambiahasneverhadawrittenshoot-to-killlaw,andthegovernmenthasstridentlydeniedsupportingsuchapolicyinformally;onoccasionscoutswhoshotpoachershavefacedpunishment.

WhenavideotapeofthedocumentaryfirstmadeitswaytotheZambiangovernment,inthesummerof1996,officialsexpressedconsternationthatthecountrywasportrayedasaplacewheregamescoutswereallowedtopremptivelykillsuspectedpoachers.TheZambiannationalpolicelaunchedahomicideinvestigation,andtheOwensesNorthLuangwaConservationProjectwasseizedbythegovernment.Theinvestigation,however,encounteredseveraldifficulties.Thefirstwastheabsenceofabody.Asthecurrentnationalpolicecommissioner,GraphaelMusamba,explainedinaninterview,Thebushistheperfectplacetocommitmurder.WehavethisallthetimeintheNorthernProvince.Theanimalseattheevidence.

TheinvestigatorswerealsohamperedbytheabsenceoftheABCcameramanandproducer,whohadlongsinceleftthecountry,andofMarkandDeliaOwensthemselves.TheyhaddepartedonwhattheycalledaregularlyscheduledleavetoAmericainSeptember,1996,shortlyafterthevideotapewasseenbyZambianinvestigators.Intheirabsence,theAmericanEmbassyinLusakatookuptheirdefense.OneEmbassycablefromthisperiod,whichreferredtothecontinuinginvestigationoftheOwensforcomplicityintheallegedshootingofapoacher,suggestedskepticismaboutgovernmentofficialsinthearea:Hundredsofthousandsofdollarsworthofvehicles,computers,equipmentandsupplies(virtuallyalldonatedthroughtheOwensFoundationandtheFrankfurtZoologicalSociety)remainatthemercyofParksDepartmentofficials,thecablereads.InadditionadecadeofworkbytheOwensesandtheirsupportershascometoanend,hundredsofZambianswhoworkedfortheprojectthecablereportsthatsomesixtygamescouts


11/26

wereintheOwensesdirectemploymustnowwonderhowtheywillfeedthemselves,andZambiasNorthLuangwaNationalParkonceagainliesopentounrestrainedpoaching.

TheOwenses,inwhattheyhopedwasatemporaryexileinAmerica,solicitedaletterfromABCNewstoabsolvethemofresponsibilityfortheshooting.JaniceTomlin,whofirstsuggestedtheOwensesasasubjectforanABCdocumentary,wrotetotheU.S.AmbassadorinZambia,RolandKuchel,IhavelearnedthatthefootagethatwasbroadcastonourprogramofapoacherbeingkilledhascreatedaproblemfortheNorthLuangwaConservationProject.IcanassureyouinthestrongestwaypossiblethatneitherMarknorDeliaOwensnoranyotherNorthLuangwaConservationProjectstaffwereevenintheareaatthetimeofthisshooting.Tomlin,whowasnotinZambiaduringthefilming,saysthatshebasedtheletteroninformationfromtheOwensesandfromABCsproducerandcameraman.

TheAmericanEmbassywarnedtheOwensesnottoenterZambiauntilthecontroversywasresolved.InaconsularmemorandumofDecember3,1996,anofficialwrotethattheOwenseshadbetterhaveironcladassurancesthattheyhavebeenexoneratedandthatallarrangementsareinplacefortheiruneventfulreturnbeforetheyconsidersuchamove.KucheltoldmethatZambiasjusticesystemwasthoroughlycorrupt,andhefearedthatifMarkOwenswereheldinaZambianjail,hewouldberapedandinfectedwithH.I.V.In1997,ayearafterDeadlyGamewasaired,MarkOwenswrotetotheZambianattorneygeneraltoclearhisname.Intheletter,hesaidthatitwastheABCproducerhedoesnotnamehim,butAndrewTkachwasinchargeofthefilminginZambiawhoinsistedonfilmingpoachers.Theproducerwassodesperatetofindapoachingincidentthat,onseveraloccasions,hisowncameramanandsoundtechnicianarguedopenlywithhim,sayingthathewascompromisingtheintegrityoftheentirefilmwithhisobsessiontofindapoachingincident,Owenswrote.Tosatisfyhisthirstforpoaching,touroperatorsandsafarihunterswerealertedtoreportfindinganypoachingincident.

ButthepersonwhoalertedlocalstolookforpoachingwasMarkOwens.AdrianCarr,awhiteZambian,isoneoftheleadingsafarioperatorsinthevalley.ABChiredhiscompany,ontheOwensesrecommendation,toestablishacampforitscrewnearMarula-Puku,andCarralsosuppliedABCwithdriversandguides.TheOwenseswereoncefriendlywithCarrtheythankhimintheirbookSecretsoftheSavanna,publishedin2006,forhisfriendship,supportanddedicationtotheconservationofwildlifeinZambiabuttheyappeartohavefallenout.CarrsaidthatatfirsthesupportedMarkOwensseffortstosecuretheparkbutgrewconcernedabouthisapproachtowildlifeconservation;theOwensessaidthattherelationshipsouredbecauseCarrwasenviousofthesuccessoftheirprograms.In1994,Carrrecalled,inthedaysbeforefilmingbegan,MarkOwenspaidhimasurprisevisit.HeApocalypseNowedintothecampwithhishelicopter,hesaid.TheABCNewscrewwasdueintheLuangwaValleyshortly,andOwensseemedeagertoprovidethemwithdramaticfootage.Hewasactivelytryingtogetsomepoachersforthefilmcrew,Carrsaid.TheOwenseshaveclaimedthatseveralofMarksstatementsinDeadlyGameweremisconstrued.TheysaythatMarksinstructiontoscoutstokillpoacherswastakenoutofcontext.Atthetimeofthefilming,Owenssays,hehadjustlearnedthatthreecorruptpolicemen,dressedasscoutsandarmedwithAK-47s,werecomingtotheparktokillhimandanyscoutstheyencountered.

AdrianCarrcallsthisclaimanoverdramatizationofthereality.Inhisview,Itwasntasbadastheythought,especiallywhentheywerelivingbehindsandbags.He


12/26

saidtheOwensesmighthavebeenthetargetsofviolenceintheearlydays,butnottowardthelatteryears.Thisisabsolutelyexaggerated.AndinthevideoMarkOwenstellsthescouts,Allright,gentlemen,whatwehavethismorningisanumberofpoachingpressuresinthenationalpark.Hemakesnoreferencetopolicemen.

Owensalsowrote,inhislettertotheZambianattorneygeneral,thattheAR-15automaticrifleheisseencarryingintheABCbroadcastwasafake.ItwasmadeformeinSouthAfrica,outofwood,anditisidenticalinappearancetoarealweapon,hewrote.Icarriedthisreplicainmyhelicopterfromtimetotime,andletitbeseenbyscoutsandafewcapturedpoacherssothatthewordwouldspreadthatIwasheavilyarmedandthereforenotasofttarget.Inthevideo,though,Owens,carryingtheAR-15,backstheABCcrewawayfromanelephantasitmock-charges,andsays,Wedontwanttoenduphavingtoshoother.WhenIaskedVieiraaboutthisrecently,shesaid,Thegunslookedrealtome.Idbefreakedoutiftheywerentreal.Whatwashegoingtodoiftheelephantcharged?YellBang,bang?

Inthebroadcast,OwenstellsVieira,Ilovelifeingeneralsomuchthattobebroughttothepointofhavingtoextinguishhumanlifetoprotectwildlifeisatremendousconflictandcontradiction.Butgivemeanothersolution.Itswhywestillhaveelephantshere.Helaterwrote,IwasnotspeakingofZambiainparticular,butofAfricaingeneral....ImerelystatedthatIregrettedthathumansweresometimeskilledindefenseofwildlife;nottoimplythatIwasdoingit,orZambiasgamescoutsweredoingit.ButinanotherexchangeVieiraaskshimspecificallyabouthisworkwiththescoutsofNorthLuangwa,whoOwenssayswouldnottellhimiftheyhadkilledpoachers.Youretheonewhoshelpedthescoutsreachthepointwheretheyrecapabletogointhere,shesays.Owensreplies,Well,thatstrue,butIvelaidthatquestiontorestformyself.Isay,Imnottheonepullingthetrigger.Yearspassed,andthoughnochargeswerebroughtandnowarrantsfiledoverthekillingofthepoacher,theOwensesneverreturnedtoZambia.Investigatorstherearestilleagertotalktothem.IrecentlyvisitedtheheadquartersofthenationalpoliceinLusaka,whereImetBiembaMusole,thedeputycommissionerinchargeofcriminalinvestigations.In1996,asayoungdetective,MusolehadledateamofthreeinvestigatorstoNorthLuangwa,wherehespentamonthsearchingforcluesabouttheidentityofthedeadmanandhiskiller.Weknewitwasdifficulttorecoverabody,becauseanycorpseleftinthewildwillbeeaten,butwethoughtwecouldlearnthenameoftheman,Musolesaid.Theteamtravelledfromvillagetovillagewithagenerator,atelevisionset,andaVCR,andplayedtheABCvideotapeforhundredsofvillagers.Itswildernessupthere,hesaid.Todrivefromonevillagetoanothertakesawholeday.Musolesaidhefoundthepeopleintheareawillingtohelp,andinsomecasesfrightenedandresentfultowardtheOwensscouts.Buttheystillcouldnotidentifytheshootingvictim.Weaskedineveryvillageifsomeonehadgonemissinginthetimeperiod,butnooneintheimmediatesurroundingvillagessaid,Yes,thisistheperson.

ItoldMusolethatIhadspentmorethanamonthtravellingacrossnorthernZambiaaswell,tryingtolearnmoreaboutthekilling.Thisisaverydifficultcasetocrack,Musolesaid.AletterfromtheZambianinspectorgeneral,sentin2004,acknowledgesthedifficultyofthecase.Ihaveenquiredonthematterbutno-oneconfirmstheallegationofshooting,hewrote.AseniorofficerisreportedtohavebeensenttoNorthLuangwatoinvestigatethereportbutnothingwasconfirmed.MusolesaidhethoughthecouldsolvethemysteryifhecouldinterviewmembersoftheABCteamandMarkandDeliaOwens.WhenIaskedifhethoughtthepolicewouldeventuallydroptheirinvestigation,hesaid,Theresnostatuteoflimitationsonmurder.


13/26

FortymileswestoftheNorthLuangwaparkisShiwaNgandu,thelakeoftheroyalcrocodile.Itwasontheseshoresthat,accordingtolegend,acrocodileateDavidLivingstonesdog,anditwashere,fiftyyearsafterLivingstonesearlyexplorations,thataneccentricEnglishmannamedStewartGore-Brownedecidedtobuildanexpansiveplantation.Gore-BrownearrivedinNorthernRhodesiaduringtheFirstWorldWar,asamemberofacommissiondrawingthebordersofsouthernAfrica.Hehaddreamedofbeingthelordofamanor,andby1926hehadcompletedtheconstructionofaTuscan-stylemansionontwenty-threethousandacresoffarmland.ThemonocledGore-BrownelivedouthislifeasthebaronofShiwaNgandu,hunting,farming,andbuildingafactoryfortheprocessingoftropicaloils.ThousandsofZambiansdependedonthesemifeudalShiwaplantationfortheirexistence,butGore-BrownebecameknownovertimeforhisadvocacyofAfricanself-rule.Whenhedied,in1967,hewashailedasaZambianhero.

Today,ShiwaHouse,asitisknown,ismanagedbyoneofGore-Brownesgrandsons,amaninhisfiftiesnamedCharlesHarvey.WhenMarkandDeliaOwensarrivedinnorthernZambia,theyvisitedShiwabeforeestablishingtheircampinthepark.Gore-Brownesdaughterandson-in-law,LornaandJohnHarveyCharlessparentsweretheirhosts.Theystayedwithmyparentsintheirforty-roomhouse,Charlesrecalled.TheywerefedaproperEnglishbreakfastandsentontheirway.AccordingtoCharlesandhisbrother,Mark,theOwensesfollowedadirttrackfirstcarvedoutofthebushbyJohnHarvey.CharlesHarveysaid,Theycameandlookedatthemaps,andmyfathertalkedtothemaboutthedifficultiesofsettingupcampinthepark,buttheyweredeterminedtogo,somyparentskittedthemout.TheHarveysweresupportiveatfirst,butsooncametoseetheOwensesasself-aggrandizers.Ididntrealizethisquiteatthetime,buttheyweresetonmakingitseemasiftheywerethefirstwhitepeopleinthepark,andmyparentsdisturbedthatimage,CharlesHarveysaid.

StewartGore-BrowneandtheHarveysarenotmentionedinTheEyeoftheElephantorSecretsoftheSavanna,althoughLornaandJohnHarveyweremurderedin1992bymensuspectedofbeingpoachersandivorytraders.MarkandDeliatalkagreatdealaboutbeingtargetedforassassinationbypoachers,butmyparentswereactuallyassassinatedbymenwebelievewerepartofapoachingsyndicate,CharlesHarveysaid.TheOwensessaythattheyhadafallingoutwiththeHarveysaftertheyreportedtheirfather,JohnHarvey,forpoachingandMarkHarveyforrunningsubstandardsafaritours.

CharlesHarveyandIspokeonanightdrivethroughtheenormousShiwaestate,passingherdsofzebra,impala,andwildebeest.Weshouldhaveknownsoonerwhattheyweredoing.Theystolemyfatherscookthefirstday,hesaid.WewerentusedtothatAmericanstyleofbehavior.

InTheEyeoftheElephant,theOwensesmakerepeatedmentionofthecook,amannamedSundayJustice.DeliawroteofoneofherfirstconversationswithJustice,whowasinhisearlytwentiesatthetime.Tellme,Sunday,canweflytothatvillage?sheasked,namingavillagereputedlypopulatedbypoachers.Justiceresponded,accordingtoDelia,Ohno,Madam,thatvillageisverymuchontheground.Shecontinued,Ismilebehindhisbackforalongmoment.AllmorningIhavenoticedSundaystealingglancesattheplane.Sheasked,Youliketheairplane,dontyou,Sunday?Yes,Madam.Imyselfalwayswantedtotalktosomeonewhohasflownupintheskywithaplane.Well,youcantalktome,Isay,asIpoursaltintoajar.


14/26

Imyselfalwayswantedtoknow,Madam,ifyouflyatnight,doyougoclosetothestars?Iexplainthatonearthwearesofarfromthestarsthatbeingupafewthousandfeetdoesnotmakeanydifferenceinhowclosetheylook.ButIdontknowifheunderstands,soIendbysaying,Whenyouflyatnight,youfeelclosertothestars.

OnoneofmyvisitstoNorthLuangwa,IcameacrossSundayJustice,whowasthenworkingasasafariguide.WhenIaskedhimabouttheconversation,helaughedandsaid,Ialwaysknewwhatanairplanewas.IusedtoflytoLusakaallthetimewithJohnHarvey.Asachild?Yes,asachildandasanadult.AfterleavingtheOwensescamp,Justicesaid,heworkedfortheZambianAirForce.

TheOwenseswritingsonoccasionconveyarchaicideasaboutAfricans.OntheWebsiteoftheOwensFoundation,AfricaisreferredtoastheDarkContinent,andthroughoutTheEyeoftheElephanttheOwensesexpressedadesiretoliveinanEden-likeAfrica,freeofthecomplicationscreatedbythepresenceofhumans.InSecretsoftheSavanna,theyissuedastrongcallforhumanpopulationcontrolinAfrica.Unlesshumannumbersareinbalancewiththoseofneighboringwildlifepopulations,thedeclineofwildlifewillcontinuetobeahardreality,theywrote.DespitetheravagesofAIDSandaplethoraofotherdiseases,Africaspopulationscontinuetooutstripthecarrycapacityofthecontinentalresourcebase.Zambia,though,islargerthanFrance,withonlyone-fifththepopulation.MarkHarveytoldmethattheOwensesearnedareputationinthevalleyfortheirintoleranceoflocalpeople.TheirwholeattitudewasNicecontinent.PityabouttheAfricans,hesaid.P.J.Fouche,aprofessionalhunterwhomanagesahuntingconcessioninagame-managementareaoutsidethepark,saidthatMarkOwensdevelopedaproprietaryfeelingabouttheparkswildlife.HedidntwantthemtheAfricanstobeanywherenearhisanimals.Thatshowhesawtheanimals,ashis.

AfterSundayJusticelefttheAirForce,hereturnedtothevalley,where,hesaid,hemetahardenedMarkOwens.Atfirst,hesaid,Markwasinterestedinscience.Butovertimehisfocuschanged.Hewasveryangrywithpoaching.Helovestheelephants,soallthekillingmadehimveryupset.AsMarkOwensassumedmoreauthorityoverthevalleyandthegamescouts,heextendedhiscampaignagainstpoachersbeyondthebordersofthenationalpark.TheOwensesnowhadaBellhelicopteraswellastheCessna,andthescoutswerehighlymobile,thankstotrucksprovidedtothembytheOwensesconservationproject.InTheEyeoftheElephant,Deliadescribedthefirstofaregularseriesofvillagesweeps:ThescoutsraidvillagesallnightburstingintopoachershutswhiletheysleepanddrivebacktoManointhemorning,theirtruckloadedwithsuspects.

TheOwensesatonepointaskedtheU.S.governmenttoprovidefinancialsupportfortheirvillagesweeps.InaproposalforfundingsubmittedtotheU.S.FishandWildlifeServicein1994,theydescribedtheirtactics:Wildlifeofficerssweepintovillagesatnighttoseizepoachersandtheirweaponsbeforetheycanbeusedtokillelephants.MorethanfiftyfirearmswereconfiscatedduringasinglesweepinAugustof1993.Theproposal,whichwasunsuccessful,alsoreferstoAirborneQuickResponseandSpecialUnitScouts(trainedinparamilitarytacticsandtoworkwithaircraft).

TheEyeoftheElephantdoesnotprovidemanydetailsabouttheseraids,but,invillagesaroundthepark,residentstoldmethatthescoutsbeatmentheysuspectedofpoaching.InavillagenearMpikacalledChita,residentsawokeonenighttothesoundoftruckengines.Scoutsswarmedthevillage.Theywerearmedwithrifles.Onevillager,who


15/26

askedtobeidentifiedonlyasMutolo,describedwhathappened:Thescoutstookthementoonesideofthevillageandtheybegantobeattheonestheysaidwerepoachers.Theybeatthemhardwiththeirhandsandrifles.

Someofthevillagerstoldmethatscoutsturnedtheirhousesupsidedown,searchingunderbedsandsleepingmatsforweaponsandintheraftersfordriedmeat.(ItisagainstthelawinZambiatoraidahousewithoutawarrant,butthevillagersIspokewithsaidthescoutsofferednodocumentsthatwouldhavejustifiedtheraid.)Anotherwitness,AgathaChipole,saidthathersonwasamongthementhescoutswerelookingfor.SheadmittedthathehadpoachedintheNorthLuangwapark,butonlytoprovidemeatforhisfamily.Oneman,whoalsoaskednottobeidentified,said,Twoscoutsheldmeupandathirdonehitmeinmypenisareawithhisrifle.Theywereaskingme,Wherearetheguns?ThevillagersIinterviewedsaidthescoutscollectedbetweentenandfifteenweaponsthatnight.Fourmen,avillagertoldme,weretakentothehospitalinMpikafortreatmentaftertheraid.

TheOwenseshavedeniedharmingpoachers,orencouragingscoutstodoso.MaryDykes,oftheOwensFoundation,wrote,HadtheOwensesadoptedanypolicythatsupportedtheabuseofpoachersandpoachingsuspects,themanyvillagesandtheirtriballeaders,nottomentioncorruptofficialsneedinganexcusetogetridofthem,wouldhaveimmediatelyhadthemarrested.

Butmanyscoutstoldmethatpoacherscapturedinthepark,oftenlocalresidentswhowereworkingasmeatcarriers,weretakentotheManocompound,oronoccasiontoMarula-Puku,fordetentionandquestioning.Oneman,whodescribedhimselfasanOwensscoutandaskedtobeidentifiedonlyasMvulu,saidthatprisonersweresometimesbroughttoMarula-Puku,tiedtoastake,andleftoutinthesun.Wewouldmakethemunderstandthatpoachingwasnotagoodjobforthem,hesaid.Anotherscoutwhoworkedintheparkinthisperiod,HenryKampamba,said,MarkOwenstoldusthatanyonewithmeatoraweaponshouldhaveabeating.Ininterviews,scoutswhosaytheyoncereportedtoMarkOwens,aswellasformeremployeesoftheOwensesNorthLuangwaConservationProject,defendedthetacticsusedtosuppresspoaching.IaskedMutaleKasokola,whoisdepictedinTheEyeoftheElephantfiringcherrybombsatpoachers,ifhethoughttheroughmethodswerejustified.Thesepoacherswereverybad,hesaid.Theywereverydangerouspeople.Theyhadtobestopped.MarkOwenssaidwehadtodoanythingtostopthem,orelsetheelephantswouldalldie.

Inlettersande-mailstome,theOwensesandtheiradvocatesarguedthatMarkOwenssmilitantpersonainZambiaasportrayedinTheEyeoftheElephantandintheABCdocumentarywassimplyaperformancedesignedtomakepoachersbelievethathewasdangerous.Owenssaysthatduringhischerry-bombcampaignhespreadrumorsinthevalleythathewasfiringliveammunition.Iactivelypromotedtheideathattheseweremorethanfirecrackers,withpeopleIknowwhowouldleakthisinformationtothepoachingcommunity,hesaid.IwantedthemtothinkthatthesewereRPGsorsomethingmoreformidablebecauseIthoughtwewereonthevergeofbeingkilled.ButKasokola,whodescribedtheOwensesasgenerousbenefactors,toldmethatonoccasionscoutsfiredliveammunition.Weonlythrewcherrybombsonthepoachersfromtheairplane,hesaid.Whenwegotthehelicopter,thescoutswouldfirebulletsatthepoachersfromthehelicopter.Heexplained,ThepoachershadAK-47sandwouldfireattheplaneandthehelicopter.

TheOwensesalsodeniedthatpoacherswereheldunderarrestorquestionedatMarula-Puku,orthatanyonewastiedtoastakeinthesunorbeaten.Inalettertome,


16/26

DonaldZachary,oneoftheirattorneys,wrote,Scoutsoccasionallypassedthroughorneartheircampwithcapturedpoachers,andtheywouldstopforwaterorabriefrest.Duringthosetimes,thescoutswouldhandcuffprisonerstoatree,butonlyforafewminutesandintheshade.

ButanotherformeremployeeoftheOwenses,HammerSimwinga,whonowheadsacommunity-developmentprograminMpika,saidthatonoccasioncapturedpoacherswereheldtemporarilyinasmallbuildinginMarula-Puku,where,hesaid,scoutswouldgetinformationaboutwhowascomingintothepark.Inhisview,theantipoachingtechniquesofthescoutswerenecessary,eveniftheysometimesbecamerough.Theimportantthingistoextractinformation,Simwingasaid.Andthoughthescoutsworkcouldcausecontroversy,thereissympathyforthemethodsbecausetheyworked.Hesaidheheardofvillagershavingdisappearedinsidethepark,buthadnoknowledgeofkillings.Simwingalaterrecantedmuchofwhathehadtoldme,andinane-mailtoMarkOwens,whomhereferstoasDad,hepromisedhiscontinuedsupport.

LikeothersupportersoftheOwenses,Simwingasaidthatthecouplesachievementsinthevalleytheintroductionofeffectivetacticstowildlifeprotection,andtheprojectsinthevillagesthatbroughthealthcaretopeoplewhopreviouslyhadnoneoutweighedwhateverharmmayhavecometosubsistencepoachersandtheirfamilies.Inane-mailtoaZambiancriticoftheOwenses,AlexandraFullerwrote,Yes,peoplewentmissingwhilepoachingwhentheOwenseswereinZambiaandtheystilldowhydoyouthinktheOwenseshavebecomeascapegoatforthis?Poachingis,wasandalwayswillbeariskybusiness.Shewenton,Itsahigh-riskgameandtheOwensescannotpossiblytaketheheatforallthebodiesleftinthatvalley!FullertoldmethatshehadinvestigatedthevariousallegationsagainsttheOwenseswhilewritinganarticleaboutZambia,whichwaspublishedinNationalGeographicin2005,andhadbeenunabletosubstantiateanyofthem.

TheOwenses,throughtheirattorneys,saidthatMarkOwenscouldnotberesponsibleforwhatthescoutsdid,becausehedidnotcommandthem.OnceMarktransportedthescoutstoapoachingarea,heflewaway,Zacharywrote.WhatthescoutsdidonthegroundwithpoacherswassimplynotMarksbusiness.NeitherMarkOwensnoranyoneassociatedwithhisproject,theysaid,everrecruited,commandedorpaidsalariestoanygovernmentgamescout.MalcolmBoulton,whoworkedfortheNorthLuangwaConservationProject,largelyintheMpikaoffice,alsosaysthatMarkdidnotleadthescouts.

ButscoutsIspoketoinanumberofvillagesintheLuangwaValleytoldmethatMarkOwenshadclearlybeentheircommander.AndinTheEyeoftheElephantDeliaOwenswrote,ofthescouts,Markcreatesspecialunitsforthosewhoperformwell,andtheyareissuedextraequipmentnewguns,jungleknives,binoculars,compasses.Markwritesthatthoughhewouldprefernottoasserthisrank,Ihavefullauthorityoverthescouts.InascenefromMaryanneVollerssSportsIllustratedprofileoftheOwenses,Markspotsapoachingcampfromtheair.Markspendsthenextdaysorchestratingamanhunt,shewrote.Hedispatchestwopatrolsofeightscoutsapiecetothesiteofthepoacherscamp.Thescoutscapturethreepoachers,butthemaingangsplitsupandheadsfortheescarpment.Markradiosheadquarterstosetupambushesalongtheexitroutesfromthepark,butitistoolate.OnmythreetripstoNorthLuangwa,ImadeseveralvisitstotheManocampandinterviewedadozenveteranscoutsaboutMarkOwens.Theywerecomplimentary,inpartbecausetheOwenseshadoutfittedthemwithsuperiorequipmentandrations.JohnChibeza,anOwensscout,toldmehisfellow-scoutsfeltthattheywerelitesoldiers.He


17/26

wouldcallusshocktroops,Chibezasaid.TheotherscoutswerejealousofusbecauseMarkOwenswasourcommander.Hewasanexpertincombat.(ChibezaretractedthisafterspeakingwithHammerSimwinga.)AlthoughOwensdidnotserveintheU.S.military,severalofthescoutsIinterviewedbelievedthathewasaVietnamveteran;intheTurningPointdocumentary,Owenssays,inreferencetoNorthLuangwastroubles,Frankly,itremindsmeofalittlebitofVietnam.

P.J.Fouche,thehunterwhomanagesaconcessionontheedgeofthepark,toldmethatscoutswouldsaluteOwenswhenheappeared.Somethinghappenedtohimovertheyears,Fouchesaid.Hewouldbemorethreateninginperson.Hewasalwaysarmed,andhealwaysseemedreadytofight.FoucheandOwenswereoncealliesinthefightagainstpoachers,butfelloutoverwhatFouchesaidweredisagreementsabouttactics.TheOwensesmaintainthatFouchewasupsetwiththembecausetheirU.S.FishandWildlifegrantapplicationcompetedwithhis.

Theythoughttheywerekings,FouchesaidoftheOwenses.Hemadehimselfthelaw,andhislawwasthathecoulddoanythinghewanted.Fouchesaidthat,beforehisdisagreementwithMarkOwens,scoutsunderOwensscommandwouldpatrolFouchesconcession.Iaskedhimifthescoutskilledsuspectedpoachersinhisarea.

Ofcourse,Fouchesaid.DidMarkOwensknowthatthescoutswerekillingpeople?Iasked.FouchehandedmealetterthathesaidOwenshadfaxedhimin1994.Itwaswritten

inpartasapleatoFouchetohelpraisefundsfortheOwensesproject,anditlistedsomeofMarkOwenssantipoachingaccomplishments.TodateIhaveflowneightairborneantipoachingoperationsoveryourarea,includingfourinwhichIinsertedscoutsonambush,Owenswrote.TwopoachershavebeenkilledandonewoundedthatIknowofthusfar,andwearejustgettingwarmedup.

Intheletter,OwensdescribedhisplanstorecruitmorescoutsforhisAirborneSpecialOperations.Theseofficerswillbeusedwiththechopperonshockoperations,inwhichwehittheworstpoachersveryhardandwithlastingeffect.ThishasworkedtosuchadegreeintheparkthatwehaverecordedonlyasingleelephantpoachedinNorthLuangwaParksincethebeginningoftheyear,andabuffaloandwarthogaspartofthesameincident.Hewenton,Nowthatwehavesecuredthepark,ourstrategicplanistokeeppushingthepoachersbackuntilwehavecreatedabroadsafetyzoneorbufferareaonallsidesofNorthLuangwa.Inthiswaywenotonlytakecareofpoachersattackingthepark,butalsotheoneswhoarepunishingthe[game-managementareas].Believemeitisalreadyworking.

Hecomplainedthathewasbeingstigmatizedasapreservationistsomeoneopposedtolegalhunting.Wehavesecured,andarebusysecuringnotonlyyourhuntingarea,butthatofJones,andothersaswell,hewrote,referringtoPaulTudorJones,thehedge-fundmanager.(Joneswouldnotcommentforthisarticle,buthisspokesmanStevenBrucesaid,Atthetime,Mr.Joneshadnoknowledgeoftheseactivities.Heabhorsmurderandwouldnevercondonesuchactions.)

Attheendoftheletter,OwensaskedFouche,whowastheninAmerica,forhelpinequippinghisscouts:Anythingyoucandotohelpkeepouranti-poachingeffortsaliveinyourareawill,Iguarantee,paybigdividendsforyoursafaribusiness,andverysoon,hewrote.Onthatnote,woulditbepossibleforyoutobringbackasmuchammoasyoucan:12gauge00B,30.06,300,7.62short(AK),andsomecrackershells(forpestcontrol)?Overthepastseveralyears,theOwensesandtheirattorneyRobertIveyhavethreatenedlegalactionagainstanumberofpeopleintheU.S.andinZambiawhoraisedquestions


18/26

abouttheirbehaviorinAfrica.MarkOwensslettertoFouchehasbeenaparticularpointofcontention.Tenyearsago,SharonHealey,agraduatestudentattheUniversityofDenversInternationalHumanRightsAdvocacyCenter,gotacopyoftheletter.ShecontactedtheOwensFoundationaboutit,andsaidthatMaryDykesjustifiedthecontentsonthegroundsthatitwasawarzone,thatFouchewasbeingoverrunwithpoachersandwasbeggingMarkforhelp.Someyearslater,Dykesresumedcontact,Healeysaid,andtoldherthattheletterwasdictatedbyMarkwhenhewasoutinthebushtoanOwensemployeeandthatthecontentsmighthavebeengarbledintransmission.In2005,RobertIveywroteHealeyandclaimedthattheletterhadinfactbeenwrittenbyanemployeenamedMalcolm,underMarksnameandinhisvoice.(ThisisanapparentreferencetoMalcolmBoulton,whohasdeniedanyknowledgeofthisletterorinvolvementinitswriting.)IveysentadocumentfromtheOwensFoundationthatarguedthattheFouchelettercontainedcertainwordssuchasmessieurs...thatMarkOwensdoesnotuse.Further,itsaid,Markhasneverusedthephraseallgrinfromeartoear,whichoccurredintheletter.

DonaldZachary,anotheroftheOwenseslawyers,recentlygavemeaslightlydifferentexplanation.Hewrote,WebelievesomeonetookbitsoutofatypedletterMarkactuallydidwritebutaddedsomeaggressivelanguageandfaxedit,possiblyfromtheOwensesmachineinMpikawhennoonewasintheoffice.Zacharysuggestedthatthepersonwhosentthefaxwasinvolvedinaconspiracy,orchestratedbyofficialsopposedtothebanonivorytrading.Then,lastweek,MarkOwenswrotetosaythathemighthavewrittentheletterafterall.Althoughhehadnospecificmemoryofthefax,herecalledthataroundthetimeitwassenthehadtalkedtoagroupofscoutswhohadbeenfiredonbypoachers,andhesurmisedfromtheirbehaviorthattheyhadshotback.Notlongafter,hesaid,Fouchewasfrightenedbyanattackonhiscamp.WhendraftingthefaxtoFouche,ifinfactIdidso,myexperiencewiththescoutsontheLuangwaRivermusthavebeenfreshinmymind,Owenswrote.KnowingFouchesveryrealfearthathisconcessionareawasunderthreat,Ilikelywantedtoreassurehimthatwehaddonesomethingsignificanttodefendhiscampandpersonnel.Hewenton,ItappearsthatthisfaxstatessomethingthatIdidnotknowforcertainthattwopoachershadbeenkilledandonewoundedwhenscoutsreturnedtheirfirewhilecrossingtheriver....ImayhavedecidedthatitwouldbemoresatisfyingtoMr.FoucheifItriedtoquantifytheepisode,orperhapsIsimplystatedmyconclusiontoastafferwhochosethosewords.Idonotknow.Inanycase,theambiguousstatementthatwearejustgettingstarteddidnotmeanthatanyonewasjustgettingstartedshootingpoachers,butonlythatwehadjustbegunfieldingantipoachingpatrolsinthatarea.TherewerethreesetsofgunshotsinthekillingshowninDeadlyGame.Thefirstshot,theonethatknockedtheallegedpoacherdown,wasfiredbeforethecamerabeganrolling,accordingtoMeredithVieirasnarration.Thesecondshotthefirsttobeheardinthevideocamefromathinblackmaninagreenuniform.Thethirdcamefromoffscreen,firedbyanunidentifiedshooter.OnmyvisitstotheNorthLuangwaregion,Ihadaskedaboutthescoutinthevideo,amanIeventuallylearnedwasnamedLondonKawele,butIwastoldthathehadbeentransferredtoanotherpartofZambia,orthathewasdead.TheABCdocumentarydoesntindicatewhofiredthefirstandlastsetsofshots.Intheabsenceofawitnessstestimony,therehasbeenapersistentcontroversyaboutwhatactuallyhappenedonthevideowhotheothershooterwasand,insomequarters,whetherakillinghappenedatall.

OwensgiveshisinterpretationoftheshootinginhislettertotheZambianattorneygeneral:IhavenodirectevidenceofwhatIamabouttosuggest,however,basedon


19/26

whatIhavebeentoldbyothers,Ibelievethatthefollowingmaydescribewhatactuallyhappened:Ibelievethatoneormoregamescouts,excitedbybeingfilmedforinternationaltelevision,shotapoacherinfrontofthecamera.

Intheinterveningyears,supportersoftheOwenseshaveputforthvariousotherexplanations.MaryDykestoldmethatthescenemighthavebeenfilmedinZimbabwe;shealsosuggestedthatABCNewscouldhavestagedtheshootingwithactors.GordonStreeb,theformerU.S.AmbassadortoZambia,alsosaidthatthiswaspossible.Myjudgmentisthattheymorelikelystagedsomethingthatwasfakeforvisualeffect,andnoonewaskilled,Streebsaid,addingthatABCcouldhavebeeninZimbabwe.Streebsaidhefoundthefilmsuspiciousbecausewhenyouhearthegunshotgooff,thebodytwitches,butyoudontseebloodspattering.Beyondthatgunshot,theresnoevidence.

AndrewTkach,thefieldproducerofDeadlyGame,whospentamonthinNorthLuangwainthelatesummerof1994andvisitedagaininthesummerof1995,saidthatthedocumentaryaccuratelyportrayedeventsinthepark.JaniceTomlin,whoisnowafreelanceproducerinTexasbutwasthenservingastheseniorbroadcastproducerofTurningPoint,said,IcancategoricallytellyouthatanyprojectIveeverbeeninvolvedwith,anyprogram60Minutes,anyprogramthattherehasbeennostagingofanyevent.ShewasadamantthatthekillingwasvideotapedbyacameramannamedChrisEversonasheaccompaniedscoutsonpatrolinthepark.TheexecutiveproducerofTurningPoint,BetsyWest,whobecameatopexecutiveatCBSNews(andwhowaslaterforcedtoresign,withothers,inthewakeofthecontroversythatcostDanRatherhisjob),toldmethatshehadtheutmostconfidenceinTkachandEverson.Andrewisverygood,especiallyinAfricaandotherfar-goneplaces,hesveryroughandready,extremelyreliableandhonest,soItotallybelievehim,shesaid.West,whonowteachesattheColumbiaSchoolofJournalism,wenton,ChrisEversonisoneofthegreatcameramenbasedinAfrica.Icantimaginethatanythingtheyreportedwouldbeamiss.

AccordingtoChrisEverson,though,thedocumentarydidnotpresentthewholetruth.IreachedhimearlythisyearatthewineryheownswithhiswifeintheCapeProvinceofSouthAfrica.(Eversonstillworksasacameraman,mainlyfor60Minutes.)Forthefirsttime,hespokeofwhathesaw.ItwasnottheZambianscout,hetoldme,whofiredthefirstshotorthelastshots:itwasChristopherOwens,MarkOwenssson.

Itsaverycomplicatedstory,itwasaveryemotionalthing,itwasaverybadthing,Eversonsaid.Itssomethingthatnevershouldhavehappened.ChristopherOwens,whowastwenty-fiveyearsoldatthetimeoftheincident,wasspendingthesummerwithhisfatherandstepmotheratMarula-Puku.Onthedayoftheshooting,Eversonsaid,MarkOwensflewhim,alongwithChristopherandthescout,LondonKawele,toaremotelocationwithinthepark.Itwasanunusualgroup;scoutsrarelywentonpatrolwithoutatleastthreeotherscouts.

AccordingtoEverson,MarkOwensleftthethreemenintheparkandreturnedtohisheadquarters.Theyquicklycameacrossanabandonedcampandwaitedinambush.Whenasuspectedpoacherenteredthecamp,ChristopherOwensopenedfire.IdontknowwhatwasgoingoninChrissmind,Eversonsaid.Hehadarushofbloodtothehead.Idontknowwhyheshothiminthefirstplace.Idont.

EversonbeganfilmingafterChristopherfiredthefirstshot,theonethatfelledthemanMeredithVieiradescribedasatrespasser.Thenthescoutfiredattheman,whowasnowontheground;thisisthefirstshotheardinDeadlyGame.Eversonsaidhe


20/26

continuedfilmingasChristopher,whowasstandingoffcamera,firedthethreefinalshotsatthemansbody.Ishouldneverhaveallowedittohappen,Eversonsaid.

IaskedifhehadconsideredalertingthepoliceinLusakathathehadwitnessedakillingbyanAmericanvisitortoZambia.Hesaid,Thatwaswayabovemypayscale.IwasworkingforABC.Itwasntmybusinesstodothat.Eversonwouldnotsayhowhegotbacktocampaftertheshooting,buthesaidthathedidnotseeChristopherOwensagain.

Vieirasvoice-overdoesnotacknowledgetheblurredfigurethatappearsinthebackgroundshortlybeforethethreefinalshots,andmakesnomentionofChristopherOwensspresence.IaskedEversonwhytheABCdocumentarydidnotrevealthatanAmerican,MarkOwenssson,hadshottheallegedpoacher.Hesaidhedidnotknow.Inthedaysaftertheshooting,astrangetensionsettledoverMarula-Puku.Inthecampatthetimewere,amongothers,theOwenses,AndrewTkach,ChrisEverson,andDeborahAmos,whowastheon-camerareporterfirstassignedtotheOwensesstory.AmostoldmesherememberedmeetingChristopherOwensintheOwensescamp,butduringherstayhedisappeared,shesays.Idontknowwhattheydidwithhim,buthewasgone.Amos,whoisnowareporterwithNationalPublicRadio,saidtheatmosphereatMarula-Pukubecameespeciallystrainedafteravideotapewentmissing.Andrewshutwasbrokenintoandsomefilmwasstolen,shesaid.Theysaidthatahyenastolethefilm.Hegotthefilmbacksomehow.

AmossaidthatTkachtoldherabouttheshootingonlyaftertheylefttheLuangwaValleyandwentsouth,totheZambeziRiver,foraraftingtrip.Andrewsaidafterallthis,Markssonkilledsomebody.ShesaidTkachexplainedthathewithheldtheinformationbecausehedidntwanttohurttheinterviewshewassoontoconductwiththeOwenses.Heknewthatthiswasaholy-shitpieceoffilm,Amostoldme.Hehadthefilmofthesonkillingamaninthebush.Iwasshockedthathedidnttellmetheyfilmedamurder.IdidntknowthatAndrewhadasnufffilm.Asajournalist,itsverypuzzlingtome.Iwascompletelyoblivioustothis.Iaskedmyself,Whythehelldidnthetellme?

TkachdidntdiscusswithAmostheideaofreportingChristopherOwenstotheZambianauthorities.Norwouldhespeaktomeaboutthecircumstancesoftheshooting,citingaconfidentialityagreementwithsourceshewouldnotname.

ChrisEversontoldmethathedidnotknowwhathappenedtothebody.ButtheZambianpolicedetectiveinchargeoftheinvestigation,BiembaMusole,toldmethatitwasremovedbyMarkOwens,aclaimthatOwensvehementlydenies.AccordingtoMusole,hisinvestigationfoundthatOwensarrivedatthescenesoonaftertheshootingand,withthehelpofscouts,placedthebodyoftheallegedpoacherinacargonetandflewittoanearbylagoon.Therehedroppedthebodyinthewater.

MusolesfindingsweresharedwithvariousZambiangovernmentministries.Inaletter,thepermanentsecretaryoftheMinistryofTourism,RomanceC.Sampa,wrotethattheinvestigationdisclosedthatthepoachershownbeingshotinthevideowasnotshotbyanyoftheWildlifeScoutsbutbyasonofDr.MarkOwenswhohadcomeonholiday.(Sampadoesnotacknowledgethatascoutfiredthesecondshot.)Sampawenton,Thebodywasairliftedbytyingittoahelicopterandsomehowthrownoutwhilstairborne.ThehelicopterwasbeingpilotedbyDr.MarkOwensatthetime.

MusolesaidhewantedtotraveltotheUnitedStatestointerviewtheOwenses,aswellasmembersoftheABCcrew,butthatthegovernmentcouldnotaffordtopayforthetrip.HeremainsfrustratedbyABCsdecisionnottoreportthekilling.TheABCNewsshowisanaccessorytomurder,eitherafterthefactorduringthecommittingof


21/26

thismurder,Musolesaid.Thecameramanandreporterareaccomplicestothis.Thedocketisstillopenonthiscase.Whywontthecameramancomeinandtelluswhathesawandshowushisfilm?

JeffreySchneider,aspokesmanforABCNews,saidthatABCwouldnotmakeavailablethevideothatChrisEversonshotintheLuangwaValley;helikenedthisrequesttoaskingforanotherreportersnotebook.HealsotoldmethathewasunabletodescribeABCsdiscussionsaboutairingthepiece,becausethenetworknolongeremployedanyofthepeopleresponsiblefortheepisode.(RooneArledge,whowaspresidentofABCNewsatthetime,retiredin1998;hediedfouryearslater.)Wedontknowallthefacts,sowerenotinapositiontodefendorcommentontheirconductanddecisions,Schneidersaid.Thereportstatesontheairthattheyhadmadeanagreementinadvancenottoidentifypeopleinvolvedinthepatrolsasaconditionofallowingthemtoaccompanythepatrols.Thesesortsofagreementscanraisetrickyethicalquestionsabouthowfaryoushouldgoinmakingpromisesofconfidentiality.TheOwenses,fortheirpart,saidthattheymadenosuchagreement.TheyalsomaintainedthattheyhadsuccessfullypetitionedABCnottorebroadcasttheprogram,althoughSchneidersaidthatthenetworkcouldfindnothinginitsrecordstoconfirmthis.

SchneidersaidthatDianeSawyer,whohostedtheTurningPointepisode,wouldnotbeavailableforcomment,andsuggestedthatshehadplayedonlyasmallpartinmakingthepiece.Dianewastheon-airanchorforthathour,buttherewereexecutives,andanexecutiveproducer,andaproducerandareporter,MeredithVieira,whowereresponsibleforthecontentofthehour,hesaid.Dianesrolewastointroducethepiece.

VieirafirstarrivedinZambiathesummeraftertheshootingoccurred,andsaidthatshedidntrememberthespecificsofhertimethere.Iparachutedintothestory,shesaid,aswasoftenthecase.Butshesaidthattheprocessofputtingtogetherpieceswasacarefulone.Theproducerwouldstructureit,Betsywouldweighin,JaniceTomlinwouldweighin,andtherewouldbescreeningsandtweakings....Iwascertainlyinvolvedinthewriting.Idontrememberthefullextentofit.ShesaidthatTkachnevertoldhertheidentityoftheshooter.Therewasacontroversyaboutwheretheshotcouldhavecomefrom,shesays.Thatwasagrayarea.

Shesaidthatshecouldvaguelyrecallaconfidentialityagreement,butwasntprivytoit.Icantimaginewhywewouldntidentifytheperson,ifitwasanAmerican,shesaid.IwouldthinkthatBetsywouldhavehadtohaveknownthatanAmericanhadkilledaperson.IdontthinkAndrewcouldhavekeptthattohimself.Therewouldhavebeenreallegalissues.WhywouldtheykeepanagreementlikethatifanAmericanhadkilledsomeone?

BetsyWestsaidthatshewasonmaternityleaveduringthefirsttriptoZambiaandplayedalimitedroleinthestorysproduction.Decisionsaboutwhatcouldbereported,shesaid,weremadebymybossesatABCNews.In2006,tenyearsaftertheOwensesleftZambia,HoughtonMifflinpublishedtheirthirdbook,SecretsoftheSavanna.LikeTheEyeoftheElephant,thisbookisabouttheirexperienceinZambia,andcoversmuchofthesametimeperiod,butwithsignificantdifferences.Intheearlierbook,MarkandDeliawriteoftheirantipoachingoperationsindetail;inthelaterone,theyaddressthemonlyfleetingly.Mostnotably,thereisnomentioninSecretsoftheSavannaoftheABCdocumentary,orthecontroversyandpoliceinvestigationthatfollowed.Instead,theOwensesblametheirdepartureoncorruptofficialswhowereintentonstoppingtheirantipoachingactivitiesandseizingtheirprojectsassets.


22/26

Inonescene,theywriteofaninformantidentifiedasTalky,whocametocamptogiveMarkdirenews.Sir,youandDr.Deliaareinverymuchdanger,hesaid.Youcanbeputinprisonorevenkilledanytime.TalkysaidthattwoZambianofficials,BandaFamwilaandRomanceMusangu,wereworkingtopushthemoutofZambia.(ThenamesMusanguandFamwila,theOwensessaid,arepseudonyms.)TheOwensesexplainedthathigh-levelofficialsinLusakawereupsetbecausetheprojecthadshutdownpoachingandtheycouldnolongergetivoryorgamemeatfromNorthLuangwa.WorkingthroughBandaFamwila,theParksregionalfieldcommanderinMpika,theywereplanningtoputanendtotheprojectonewayoranother.

Afewdayslater,theOwenseswrote,theyleftZambiaforAmerica.WhileintheU.S.,theylearnedthattheirprojectanditsassetshadbeenseizedbythegovernment.AnAmericanEmbassydocumentindicatesthatofficialswarnedthemtostayoutofZambiauntilthehomicideinvestigationwascomplete,buttheOwensesreported,TheU.S.ambassadoradvisedusthatsincethepeoplewhoorchestratedtheillegalactionwerestillinpowerfulpositions,itwouldnotbesafeforustoreturntoZambia.Theygoon,Itseemedthattheivorydealershadfinallysucceededinclosingdowntheproject.AlexandraFuller,inherarticleforNationalGeographic,suggestedthattheyhadmanyenemiesthere.MentiontheOwensesnamesincertaincirclesinZambia,andyouwillbelikelytoheartherumorsthathavegrownuparoundthem,fueledbyamisunderstandingoftheirwork,byaprovincialmistrustofforeigners,andbyabarelyconcealedenvyoftheirwell-fundedprojects.

TheOwensestoldmethatofficialsassociatedwithaconservationprojectcalledADMADEengagedinaconspiracytoshutdowntheNorthLuangwaproject.TheformerdirectorofoperationsofZambiasAnti-CorruptionCommission,PaulRussell,toldmethatMarkOwensprovidedinformationtohiscommissionaboutinstitutionalmalfeasance,andRussellclaimedthatU.S.A.I.D.hadstoppedfundingADMADEin1996.ButofficialsatU.S.A.I.D.,theWorldWildlifeFund,andtheWildlifeConservationSociety,allofwhichhadbeenconnectedtotheprogram,offerednoinformationaboutADMADE,whichendedin2000.Russelltoldmehecouldsaynothingmoreaboutthematter,becauseasaformergovernmentemployeehewassubjecttoaconfidentialityagreement.HewroteabouttheOwenses,inane-mailtoAlexandraFuller,Itistruethattheywerenotverypopular.ThewildlifesceneinZambiahadforagesbeenthesolepreserveofanumberofwhitefarmerswhoknewhowtotackletheproblem.Hewrotethathehadencounteredoppositionwhenhetriedtoinstillnewideas.ThesamethinghappenedtoMarkandDelia,headded.Theirstylewasdifferent:betterplanned,methodicalandstrategic.RussellalsowrotethattheOwenseshaddonatedaToyotaLandCruisertotheAnti-CorruptionCommission.

AttheendofSecretsoftheSavanna,theOwensestoldofdiscoveringanothernewwilderness:BoundaryCounty,Idaho,wheretheywouldsettleaftertheirdeparturefromZambia.Inthebook,Markwrote,Iamfallinginlovewiththisnewland,bewitchedbyitsmarshes,moose,mosses,mushroomsandmoons....Awolfslong,mournfulsongrisesfromthelarchesatthebaseofthemountainsandsoarsacrossthevalley.Itisalone.Ipausetosavortheechoesofitslastcalluntiltheyarelostamongthepeaksandthenheadforthehouseagain.Butinthegatheringdarkness,deepbehindmysoul,someone,something,whispersAfrica.BoundaryCounty,inthenorthernmostpartofIdaho,isanisolatedplace,withapopulationoftenthousandspreadoutovertwelvehundredsquaremilesofmountainsandforests.ThepeopleincludepolygamousMormons,alargecommunityofMennonites,andtheoccasionalwhitesupremacist,butmainlytheyareconservativeranchers,farmers,and


23/26


24/26

Igottooscared.SopeoplesawChrisintheharnessandtheyassumeditwasapoacher.

IaskedDeliaifherhusbandwasavailabletospeaktome.Shewavedtothemountainsbehindusandsaid,Hesupthere.Sheadded,Hesgoingtobeveryangryyouretrespassing.ShesaidthatsheandherhusbandwouldnotallowmetotalktoChrisOwens,whonowlivesinMaine.Hemightsaysomethingthatyoucouldmisinterpret,shesaid.Hestryingtogethislifetogether.Justleavehimalone.Youhavesomethingtoaskhim,askus.Shetoldme,Chriscameinthesummerstohelpout.Hewasinvolvedwiththescouts.Hewasinvolvedintheirtraininginvariousaspects.Shewouldnotelaboratefurther.

Aswetalked,Deliaagaingrewupset,andshewalkedofftowardthedeer,whowerefeedingafewyardsaway.Shepointedoutadoetome.ThisoneisnamedHighCheeks,shesaid.Thesnowwascomingdownharder,andshelookedbackatthemountains.ShetoldmeMarkwouldbebacksoon.Hesgoingtobeupsetthatyoucameontotheproperty.

ShesaidthatsheandMarkhadnoknowledgeofpoachersbeingkilled.Wedontknowanythingaboutit,shesaid.TheonlythingMarkeverdidwasthrowfirecrackersoutofhisplane,butjusttoscarepoachers,nottohurtanyone.

InotedtoherthatMarkwroteinalettertoP.J.Fouchethatheknewoftwopoacherswhohadbeenkilledbyhisscouts.Itwasthenthatsheaskedmetoleavetheproperty.Whydontyouunderstandthatweregoodpeople?sheasked.Wewerejusttryingtohelp.IntheyearsbeforeDeadlyGamewasbroadcast,ChristopherOwenstwicecametoZambiaforthesummertovisithisfatherandstepmother.OneofMarkssisters,AnneOwens,toldmethatMarkdidntseeChristophergrowingupverymuch,andthathegreatlyenjoyedhisvisits.TheOwensessaidthathewaswellreceivedbythescouts.TheyalllovedChris,Deliasaid.Theywouldrunfootraces,shesaid,inwhatshedescribedasmini-Olympics.MarkOwenssaid,Theyevenhadanicknameforhim,Mboo,whichmeansbuffalo.

ButinterviewswithgamescoutssuggestthatChristopherwasacontroversialpresenceinthecamp.Oneofthescouts,JohnChibeza,rememberedhimindisagreeableterms.ChrisOwensbeatus,Chibezasaid.Hewasanexpertinmartialarts.Marksaidhewouldwhipusintoshape.Hewouldbeatus.Hewouldbeatuswithsticks.Hewasaverybadman.(Chibezalaterrecantedthisaswell.)ThescoutHenryKampambasaidthatChristopherOwens,likehisfather,wasveryangryatthepoachers.Kampambasaid,Hesaidyoushouldteachthemalessontomakesuretheydontcometothepark.Thelessonwastobeatthem.Thereweremanybeatings.

TheuseofphysicalforceandsometimesexcessivephysicalforcebytheauthoritiesinZambiahasbeencommonplace,accordingtotheU.S.StateDepartmentshuman-rightsreportsonthecountry.Themostrecentreportstates,Policeandgovernmentofficialsencouragedpoliceofficerstousetheirweaponswhenapprehendingsuspects,despitea2006governmentdirectivethatrestrictedtheuseoffirearmsbypoliceofficersanda2006governmentpledgetoretrainpoliceontheuseofforce.Soitshouldnotbesurprisingtolearnthatgamescoutscommittedactsofviolenceagainstpoachers;scoutsandtheircommanderswereoperatingwithoutmuchgovernmentoversight.AnditwouldnotbesurprisingtolearnthattheZambiangovernment,eagertomaintainthecountrystouristtrade,didnotalwayscaretoknowhowthescoutswentaboutprotectingtheircountrysvaluablewildlife,aslongasitwasprotected.


25/26

Whatissurprisingisthataforeignerwithnolaw-enforcementexperiencecametodirectandarmagroupofgamescouts,andthenappointedhissontoinstructtheminmartialarts,andallowedhimtoaccompanyascoutonapatrol.Christopherwasnotanhonorarygameranger,likehisfather;hewas,accordingtotheZambianpolice,visitingthecountryonvacation.MarksdecisiontoinvolveChristopherinhisworkhashauntedtheOwensfamily.ButtheimpressionthatMarkandDeliaOwensleaveintheirwritingsandspeeches,intheABCdocumentary,andonthosewhohaveobservedthemcloselyisthattheybelievedsoferventlyintherighteousnessoftheircausethattheywereabletodismissallcriticism.Mymemoryofthemwasthattheysawthemselvesassaviorsoftheseanimals,MeredithVieiratoldme.Theywerehighlyemotionalaboutit.Thelevelofcaringwasverydeep,butacorruptionofvaluescouldcomewiththat.Theywereadamantaboutsavingtheseelephants.

Theircause,toprotectelephants,hasjusticebehindit,andonlyivorycollectorsmightdisagree.AdrianCarr,whohaslivedintheLuangwaValleymostofhislife,wrotetome,Ihaveworkedinwildlifeforthepast40yearsandIamfullyawareandendorsethefactthatinConservationLawEnforcement,thethreatoflethalforceiseverpresent.Therulesofengagementmustbeclearandtheuseofthatforceresponsiblyapplied.

ChiefChifunda,oneofthechiefswhoseancestralterritorywastakenbytheBritishtocreatetheNorthLuangwaPark,putitdifferently.Hescaredmypeople,hesaidofMarkOwens.Themanhasanillness.Helovesanimalsmorethanhelovespeople.ChristopherOwenshasledatumultuouslifesinceheleftZambia.Hehasbeenarrestednumeroustimes,andin2001hewasconvictedformisdemeanorassaultafterattackingamaninaPortlandbar.Hehassincepledguiltytomisdemeanorchargesofassaultandterrorizing.Christopherisnowdivorced,withayoungson.Atvarioustimes,hehaslivedinBiddeford,Scarborough,OldOrchardBeach(whereheworkedasabouncer),andBelfast,wherehismotherandstepfatherlive.ButhewasnowheretobefoundwhenIvisited.WhenIcalledhisstepfather,MichaelTowey,hedeniedknowinganyonenamedChristopherOwens.

InDecember,2003,ChristopherwaslivinginthetownofPalmyra.Accordingtoaneighbor,ChristopherSilva,OwenswashuntinginthewoodsnearhishomewhenheshotandkilledoneofSilvasdogsandinjuredanother.Oneofthedogscameoutofthewoodswithoneofhislegsmissing,andsoIranoutandlookedfortheotherone,Silvatoldme.Ifoundthebodyhiddenundersomeleaves.ThepolicesearchedOwensshousesoonafter,andfoundariflewithascopeattached.

Inastatementforthepolice,Owenswrotethathebelievedthedogswereactuallycoyotes.Iheardcoyotesinthedistanceyipping,hewrote.Heclaimedhesawtwocoyoteschasingadoeacrossaroad.Hefiredtwoshotsatthem.Iwassoexcited,becauseIhadnevershotacoyotebefore,hewrote.Hehadbroughtafriendtothescene,andtogethertheyfoundthedeadanimal.Isaid,Wow!Thatsadark-coloredcoyote.Iveneverseenonethatdarkbefore.Hisfriendnoticedacollaronthedog,andtheyremovedthetag,Owenssays,andcalledaveterinarian.Iwasafraidthatsomeonemightdosomethingtomychild/house/vehiclesiftheyfoundout,Owenswrote.Thejuryhearingthecasedidnotbelievehisexplanationoftheshooting.InApril,2005,hewasconvictedonamisdemeanorchargeofcrueltytoanimals.AftertheyleftZambia,MarkandDeliaOwensfearedthatNorthLuangwaNationalParkwouldbeoverrunbycorruptgovernmentforcesthesamemenwho,theysay,drovethemoutandshutteredtheirprojectandthattheelephantswouldagainbehuntednearlytoelimination.Buttheparkdidnotsufferintheirabsence.TheFrankfurtZoologicalSociety,theirmainfunders,movedquicklytorestablishoperationsatMarula-Puku,with


26/26

theZambiangovernmentsendorsement.ThesocietyrecruitedayoungSouthAfricancouplenamedHugoandElsabevanderWesthuizentotakeupresidenceinthepark.Hugotoldme,whenIvisitedhimthere,thathisfirstactwastorecalibratetherelationshipbetweenthegamescoutsandtheconservationproject.

Itoldthescoutstostopsalutingme,hesaid.Imnotthebigbwana.Imnotthecommander.Imanadviser.ItsnottheroleofforeignvisitorstoZambiatorunaroundwithguns.ThesocietyalsopermanentlyseveredtieswiththeOwenses,endingwhatDeliaOwensdescribedasalongandamicablerelationship,marredonlybysomeseniorofficialsjealousyoftheirsuccessfulfoundation.AccordingtoMarkusBorner,thesocietystopofficialinAfrica,theorganizationwasunawareofthecontroversiessurroundingtheOwensesuntilaZambiandelegationcametoitsFrankfurtheadquarters.WefirstlearnedthatthingswerenotrightwhentheprincipalsecretaryoftheMinistryofTourismvisitedFrankfurtandinformedourexecutivedirectorthattheprojectwascloseddownandallequipmentimpounded,Bornersaid.WewerealsotoldthattheOwenseshadfledthecountry.Hewenton,FromthispointitwasrunasanF.Z.S.projectwithclosesupportandsupervisionfromtheF.Z.S.

Duringmylastvisittothepark,Iwitnessedsomethingextraordinary:amaleblackrhinoatclosequarters.TherhinowasenormousthescoutIwastravellingwithputhisweightatmorethantwenty-fivehundredpoundsbutheseemedunbotheredbythepresenceofhumans.Apairofwell-armedandattentivescoutswerestandingby,essentiallyaspersonalbodyguards.Poachershadkilledalloftheparksrhinosbythenineteen-eighties,buttheFrankfurtZoologicalSociety,workingwiththeZambianWildlifeAuthority,hasreintroducedthemtoNorthLuangwa,andtodaytheirpopulationhasgrowntotwenty-three.Theelephants,too,haverecoveredtheirnumbersinrecentyears.Wevereintroducedtheblackrhinohere,andwedothiswithouttellingtheentireworldhowbraveweare,withoutpublicitystunts,vanderWesthuizensaid.Heandhiswifestayedintheparkfrom1997to2006.Inmytime,therewereveryfewcasesofelephantsbeingshotonlyfortheirivoryIwouldsayaboutfourteenintotal,hesaid.ElephantpoachinginNorthLuangwaisundercontrol.AndthoughZambiaandTanzaniarecentlypetitionedtoloosenthestricturesonsellingelephantparts,withthepriceofivoryrisingagain,theU.N.decidedlastweektokeepthebanintact.

EventheOwensesmostseverecriticsacknowledgethatMarksapproachtoconservationsavedthelivesofelephants.Buttheprice,MarkusBornersuggested,wastoosteep.HesaidthatwhenhevisitedNorthLuangwahelearnedquitealotaboutwhathadbeengoingon,fromtheexpatriateandlocalstaff.Hesaid,Thesewereverydarktimesforus,andIwouldliketokeepithistory.Today,henoted,NorthLuangwaisthesafestandbestmaintainedparkinZambia.

the oweneses in zambia

Documents