27 Mar 2017

Brigadier Joseph Seelo of Botswana Defence Force says poaching is a serious threat to tourism sector as one of the contributors to the country’s economy.
When addressing Central District Council (CDC) in Serowe on the security challenges they face in the eastern sector, Brigadier Joseph Seelo said that it had dawned on them that their information dissemination efforts to Batswana was not enough.
Brigadier Seelo said that they had discovered that some Batswana had engaged in poaching unknowingly. Such activities included fishing illegally.
However, there are those who knowingly indulge in poaching for commercial purposes, Brigadier Seelo, said.
These, he said were armed with weapons like AK47 and killed elephants and rhinos for their horns.
He revealed that a total of 42 elephants were lost in the northern part of the country and that the eastern part had experienced livestock theft.
Not only that, Brigadier Seelo revealed illegal activities like fuel smuggling, illegal mining as some of the burning issues in the eastern side.
In their endeavor to curb poaching, Brigadier Seelo said they were greatly challenged and urged councillors to help in the fight against illicit killings of wild animals that could cripple the tourism sector. ENDS