07 Nov 2017

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama says human-wildlife conflict has escalated as a consequence of the good rains that were received over much of the country at the beginning of 2017.

Delivering the State of the Nation address on November 6,  President Khama said while the elephant represents one of the country’s conservation successes with over a third of the continental population, they have been expanding their range into areas where they had not been observed in many years.

“To help drive them from community and farming areas additional material resources, including aircraft and capture equipment, are being procured in addition to measures such as the electrified Makgadikgadi fence.

An additional 100 posts have also been secured to strengthen the problem animal control unit,” he added.

President Khama further said that to minimise the movement of elephants and other wildlife into communal areas over the last decade, 36 boreholes had been drilled or rehabilitated into solar powered pumps in national parks and game reserves.

Under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), he said a further 22 boreholes would be drilled and equipped.

He said efforts to boost the rhino population had also been intensified in recent years with numbers increasing by over 100 per cent. 

“Concern has, however, been expressed regarding the decline of certain species of wildlife such as springbok, wildebeest and lechwe.

“A hunting moratorium was instituted in 2014 to allow us to better understand the causes of the decline and to take the necessary measures to reverse the trend,” he added.

He noted that international production houses such as Disney, National Geographic and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) were increasingly filming in the country’s wilderness areas, and that a total of 148 filming permits were issued between 2012 and 2016.

President Khama also noted that “there are currently 56 environmental filming permits which are active across the country.”

To increase benefits from wildlife and to further diversify the economy, President Khama said government was facilitating community trusts to take part in the game ranching industry, as well as tourism. ENDS