Prince Harry’s wildlife charity hit with fresh poacher abuse claims including vile torture method dubbed ‘the swing’
PRINCE Harry is facing fresh calls to step down from his animal charity following more allegations of abuse by its staff.
Armed Rangers at African Parks are accused of torturing suspected poachers and raping tribes people.
Among new allegations from dozens of alleged witnesses is the use of “the swing” method.
It allegedly involves hogtying a victim, suspending them in the air and spinning them as they’re beaten with sticks.
The method, known as ‘kampelwa’, forces people to speak, it is claimed.
In January, an investigation begun into separate allegations of rape and torture by African Parks guards against the Baka people in the Republic of Congo.
The latest allegations emerged in new book Entrepreneurs in the Wild by Dutch journalist Olivier van Beemen, who spent three years investigating the charity.
He collected first-hand testimonies from victims, abuse perpetrators, as well as former and present rangers at African Parks.
Foster Kalunga, a charity ranger in Zambia for five years until 2022, said of “the swing” method in Liuwa Plain national park: “It doesn’t last long because it hurts a lot.
“When he hangs there he says everything you want, even things he doesn’t know.”
African Parks – which Prince Harry was president of for six years before joining its board last year – is based in South Africa but works across the African continent.
The charity, funded by British aid, celebs and American billionaires, works to rehabilitate and manageme national parks in partnership with governments and local communities.
Etienne Koliwa, an ex-employee at Garamba park in the DRC, said an aggressive military approach to protecting wildlife is installed by instructors.
They are usually from Israel, France or South Africa and a poacher is “the enemy” who must be “neutralised”, claimed Mr Koliwa.
African Parks said that Koliwa was dismissed for poaching a buffalo and a warthog while on patrol.
Author Van Beeman said Prince Harry and the board should “reconsider their own roles”.
Responding to the claims, African Parks said the author was biased and said his book was “deeply flawed”.
The charity added: “African Parks has been in operation for more than 20 years, with long-term agreements with 12 different sovereign governments and numerous traditional authorities.
“We have received funding from most of the global institutions … all of which require detailed vetting processes, as well as intermittent grant audits.”