Sorry to hear about your poor experience in Zimbabwe. It has been a year now and your trophy should have been delivered to the taxidermist and/or dip and pack facility already a long time ago... From what I've gathered from your post, things do not look too promising. Persistence might get your Buffalo trophy back so be prepared to take some actions, put it out there and fight the battle...
Have you contacted the hunting outfit (Not the PH) that you hunted with?
Do you have a taxidermist and/or dip and pack person in Zimbabwe with whom you were looking at working with to process your Buffalo trophy? Have you contacted them to try to have them assist you with this matter?
Did you already take steps to contact some local agencies here in the US as well as organizations in Zimbabwe?
At this point I think that you need to be more proactive... Here is a thread that you should read:
Problem w/ PH not completing paperwork to ship
Here below are a few organizations that you may want to contact... Not all might be able to assist you with your issue as the PH or hunting outfit would have to be a member of that organization in order for them to have any sort of recourses or even be able to help you...
Zimbabwe Professional Hunters & Guides Association (ZPHGA)
Zimbabwe Professional Hunters & Guides Association (ZPHGA) is dedicated to maintain the highest standards of professionalism amongst their members and are committed to the long term management and utilization of wildlife. However it is important to mention that Zimbabwe's hunting outfitters, hunting guides, master hunting guides, bowhunting guides and professional hunters are not required to be members of ZPHGA to conduct hunting safaris. Click
here to visit
ZPHGA web site for more information regarding basic hunting laws and regulations and more.
Safaris Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ)
Safaris Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) is an organization with members that range from touring, photographic excursions to hunting safaris operators. Click
here to visit
SOAZ web site for more information regarding basic hunting laws and regulations and more.
Safari operators in Zimbabwe are required to be registered and licenced by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Ask for your operator's number when booking your hunt and, if he does not have one, check his bona fides through SOAZ by emailing them at the following email address
soaz@mweb.co.zw.
Operators must hold a lease or agreement on a suitable concession with an approved quota of animals. They are responsible for the official paperwork and permits connected to the hunt.
Bow and handgun hunting are permitted on an experimental basis, but require special permits. Black powder is legal provided the weapon complies with the requirements of the Third Schedule of the Firearms Act. This also applies to handguns.
Hunting operators are required by law to provide the services of a Zimbabwe Licenced Professional Hunter to accompany foreign hunters in Zimbabwe. Licensing is undertaken by the National Parks & Wildlife Authority. Professional Hunters write a Learner Examination, and are then apprenticed to a fully-licenced Professional Hunter for two years. During this time they must pass a shooting test set by the Zimbabwe Shooting Federation and obtain an Advanced First Aid Certificate.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA)
A hunt must be organized and carried out by a safari operator that is registered and licensed with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA). Safari operator are obliged by law to employ a licensed professional guide or professional hunter to accompany hunting clients into the bush. To visit
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority web site click
here.
Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)
All operators in Zimbabwe must be registered and licensed with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) to be legal. Operators are responsible for obtaining the permits and supplying the necessary services such as camp accommodation, catering, trackers, skinners, vehicles and a Zimbabwe licensed and registered professional guide or professional hunter. To visit
Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment and Tourism web site click
here.
Zimbabwe Government Online
Welcome Zimbabwe's Web Portal
Some valuable side info regarding Zimbabwe:
Professional guides and professional hunters are required to have a valid license and be registered with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA). The full license is issued on a plastic identity card which includes the photograph of the holder, license number, date of issue, year for which the license is valid for and a stamped along with a signature from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA). Those still in the training process carry paper licenses.
African Professional Hunters Association (APHA)
https://www.africanpha.com
International Professional Hunters Association (IPHA)
http://www.internationalprohunters.com