08 Aug 2013

The number of locals engaged in poaching is increasing in Ngamiland, a wildlife officer at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Maun has said.  

Speaking at a Maun Administrative Authority sub-council session, Mr Tabona Nyakane said the number of people found with illegal game meat and ivory was increasing and scattered all over the district.

He indicated that even though they encountered foreigners sometimes, locals seemed to be leading the pack.

Mr Nyakane also informed councillors that his department would do its best to maintain roads within protected areas such as Moremi Game Reserve and Makgadikgadi Pans.

“We have seen the bad state of roads within these protected areas and we are trying to maintain them,” he said.

Mr Nyakane said the challenge of machinery breaking down was a hindrance to maintenance of the roads, noting that it was important that the department maintained the roads before the fire season sets in.

Councillors were also informed that the Department of Wildlife and National Park was overwhelmed by cases of wild animals destroying fields and livestock.

“Concerns have been raised that when animals destroy someone’s property, we take too long to respond, but when that particular wild animal is killed we respond immediately. That is not true,” he stressed.

He further noted that Ngamiland was a vast district and lack of transport and personnel hampered their efforts to help victims diligently.

“We spend most of our time assessing the damage done by wild animals instead of concentrating on control systems to try and drive these wild animals back into the wild,” said Mr Nyakane. ENDS