Conservation is under serious threat from mining activities in protected areas countrywide, putting wild animals at risk of extinction, a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) official has said. Giving oral evidence to the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Parliamentary Portfolio Committee this Monday, ZimParks Corporate Secretary Nyasha Mutyambizi said the Mines ministry continued to accept applications for mining purposes in the restricted areas meant for conservation and tourism. Mutyambizi said tourists were no longer keen to visit Zimbabwe due to the rampant mining activities in tourist attraction areas. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Zimbabwe has the second largest elephant population and third largest total numbers of rhinos in Southern Africa (excluding South Africa) and the third largest individual black rhino population in the world. "Our international market of tourists is now questioning how conservation and mining coexist. "They are asking: 'Why should we come to Zimbabwe when your laws do not protect animals?' "Because there are people who are very passionate about animals, and they believe that as a government, as an authority, we should be able to stop mining in areas such as Matopos National Park," Mutyambizi said.