13 Feb 2017

Residents of Xhana in the Ngamiland district have been urged to find ways that will help them live peacefully with wildlife.
North West deputy council chairperson, Mr Latlhang Molonda said time has come for some communities to change their mindset and appreciate that they could share a space with wildlife without harm.
 He gave the advice when responding to some concerns raised by residents who complained that elephants frustrated their efforts of enjoying produce from their fields.
They said elephants had invaded their area and posed danger to lives and property.
Some residents complained that their cattle had crossed to Boteti region because elephants had damaged the buffer fence adding that now they were developing a negative attitude towards the animals and wished that government could intervene.
Mr Molonda agreed that the movement of elephants had stretched towards communal areas, resulting in excessive damage to human properties but urged affected residents not to kill such animals but rather report to the relevant authority to assist in chasing them away.
 He informed them that they should understand that wildlife would always remain in the region hence they should try by all means to find ways which promote a peaceful living with animals.
He stated that in some areas in the Okavango district, communities shared space with wildlife citing Gudigwa saying he once saw some locals in traditional canoes passing through crocodiles and elephants but there was no harm.
Furthermore, Mr Molonda informed residents that government is aware about the issue of human/wildlife conflict adding that efforts were being made to address the issue.
Some interventions by the government include the Northern Botswana human/wildlife co-existence project which was piloted in some area in the Okavango and Boteti districts. In Okavango, the project was being piloted in the villages of Seronga and Gudigwa.
The project aims at mitigating human/wildlife conflict through proactive human/wildlife conflict prevention strategies and skills development. ENDS