05 Jan 2016

The Northern Botswana Human/Wildlife Co-existence Project that has been piloted in the Okavango District is coming to an end in April next year.

Principal wildlife warden, Mr Cosmos Rathipana informed residents of Komana recently that the main objective of the project is to mitigate human-wildlife conflict through proactive prevention interventions in selected rural communities and to offer local people in the project areas employment opportunities in wildlife-based tourism to benefit from the presence of wildlife.

The five-year project, which was funded by the government in partnership with the World Bank to the tune of P41 million, was supposed to end this year but was extended by a year owing to its significant contribution in addressing human/wildlife conflict.

In Okavango, the project was launched in Seronga and Gudingwa. 

It focuses on prevention measures based on elephant deterrents which could easily be demonstrated and supported, while also piloting additional approaches to mitigate livestock-predator conflict.

Mr Rathipana reported that damage to property or the killing of livestock by wild animals was a serious concern in the district. 

He said while human/wildlife conflict has been around for a long time, communities co-existed well with animals. 

He said Botswana is one of the countries rich in wildlife because Batswana have learnt to co-exist with animals. He said the country’s forefathers understood the importance of wildlife to the economy.

He appealed to the Ngamiland community to emulate their forefathers and come up with ways to augment efforts in place to protect wildlife. 

Mr Rathipana noted that animals such as elephants and predators terrorise residents as they roam around freely hence the establishment of the Problem Animal Control Unit under his department which aims to educate the public on ways to deal with animals.

He also noted that Ngamiland was a tourism hub hence the need for all to join hands and ensure wildlife was taken care of. Ends