The move which is likely to stoke fires in Matabeleland and Midlands where the Gukurahundi massacres are still an emotive subject, has already alarmed conservationists who say the animals were unlikely to survive the long trip to Asia.

North Korean instructors trained the 5th Brigade blamed for the murder of more than 20 000 civilians during the 1980s disturbances in the two provinces.

Last month, activists from Matabeleland and Midlands protested against plans by government to bring the North Korean national soccer team to Zimbabwe for a training camp ahead of the World Cup in South Africa next month. The visit is now uncertain.

Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZTF) chairman Johnny Rodrigues raised the alarm last week that two 18-month-old elephants had already been captured from Hwange National Park on Mugabe's orders. He said besides fears that the elephants were unlikely to survive the long trip to North Korea, there were concerns that some of the species that were being targeted are endangered.

"It's all political, we are losing out many animals and now the president has ordered two of every species to be taken to North Korea," said Rodrigues who has clashed with authorities in the past over the plunder of the country's natural resources.

"Those animals especially the elephants are not going to live. They are still young.

"Why is Mugabe selling Zimbabwe heritage and beauty of the country to other people?"

But Vitalis Chadenga, the director general for national parks defended the move. He said Mugabe was not involved.

"I can tell you that the president or even the minister is not involved in this, there is nothing like a presidential decree here at parks," he said on Friday.

"But I can confirm that we received an application from the Democratic Republic of North Korea and we are still processing the application."

Chadenga said exports of wild animals to any country were governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) regulations.

"Of the animals which were requested only two elephants are endangered, the others like giraffes, zebras, warthogs are not endangered according to Cites," he said.

He said experts had been sent to the communist country to assess the new home for the animals and a report was being compiled.

However, Rodrigues insisted that the country, which is reeling from a spike in poaching activities since the start of the land reform programme, can no longer afford to lose more wild animals.

Two rhinos given to North Korea in the 1980s by Mugabe reportedly died only a few months after their relocation.