12 Nov 2020

Wild animals in particular predators continue to pose challenges to communities in the Kgalagadi region despite strategies in place to address the situation.

When answering a question in Parliament, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng said a Human Wildlife Conflict Strategy, which covered both Kgalagadi and Ghanzi Districts, was currently being implemented with the hope of  mitigating the situation.

The strategy, which was launched in October 27, has key actions on human/wildlife conflict monitoring, human/wildlife conflict response and support systems, improved agriculture management to reduce human/wildlife conflict, increased benefits from living with wildlife and efficient land use planning system.

She also made Parliament aware of the existence of a predator proof fence along the south-eastern boundary of the Kgalagadi Trans-Frontier Park to control predators from moving into the communal areas. She said the wild animals predate upon livestock, resulting in significant impacts on the livelihoods of communities who were dependent upon pastoral agriculture.

On issues of compensation, she explained that only damages caused by lions and elephants currently attracted 100 per cent of the damage costs while other species only attracted 35 per cent.

“There are other predators such as hyenas and jackals which currently do not attract compensation. However, my ministry is at an advanced stage to review the compensation guidelines to take into consideration the ever changing human/wildlife conflict dynamics,” she said.

Ms Kereng said her ministry continued to engage with stakeholders on holistic and integrated approaches for mitigating human/wildlife conflicts, which included land use and planning conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services.

She also added that sustainable land management practices and the use of climate smart agriculture were proving to bear positive results in mitigation of human/wildlife conflicts.

MP for Kgalagadi North, Ms Talita Monnakgotla had asked the minister if she was aware of the damage caused by wildlife in the Kgalagadi area and that very little or no compensation was given, thereby causing people to be reluctant to report.

Ms Monnakgotla also asked why the ministry did not consider valuing the actual damage caused and compensate accordingly, basing on which animal had caused the damage. ENDS