15 Feb 2017

An official from the Department of Water Affairs has commended Maun Safari companies for years of good working relationship they have had in the fight against Salvania Molesta weed in the Kwando, Linyanti and Chobe rivers.
In an interview with BOPA, Dr Naidu Kurugundla, who is Water Affairs’ head of Aquatic Vegetation Control Unit, said the three safaris of Great Plains, Delta and Desert Safaris had actively been involved in the fight against the troublesome weed since 1999.
“It was hard and expensive for the department to access the swamps to remove the weed but with the assistance of these safaris it has been much easier,” Dr Kurugundla said, adding that the companies assisted with their own staff, accommodation and transport which went a long way in reducing the department’s own costs.
In 2009, the department’s first collaboration with the Great Plains Safaris management ensued at the time the Salavania was widely spread in the Okavango River system which joins the Linyanti and Kwando systems across the Selinda cana.
“It was difficult for my department to control the invasive plant alone but with the help of Great Plains we managed to control it,” the scientist said.
He also said both the Great Plains and the department of water affairs staff from Kasane worked hard to deposit weevils that eat the plant into the area which turned out to be a huge success.
 In 2016, they set up two breeding pools to sustain the weevils for control measures and it is under the watchful eye of Great Plains Safaris.
Dr Kurugundla said the salvania molesta in those areas was under control and that it had been well eradicated in the Selinda Canal through the collaboration of the two parties.
In October 2016, they introduced refresher courses on salavania and weevils control with Great Plains safari staff which would continue this year to help keep guard of the situation in the area. ENDS