10 Aug 2021

Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms Phildah Kereng says injured and orphaned animals are released back into the wild after successful treatment and rehabilitation.

Ms Kereng said this in response to a parliamentary question on Monday, stating that where rehabilitation was not attained, such animals were kept in captive facilities, mainly for educational purposes.

She added that stakeholders who kept such animals are given a Department of Wildlife and National Parks director’s permit for keeping animals in captivity with conditions that stipulated how they should be kept for the duration of the permit.

“The permits are given free of charge. This is in consideration of the fact that the animals remain the property of the State and are to be released back into the wild after recovery and rehabilitation,” she said.

She also indicated that between 2018 and 2021, three lions, two white backed vultures and three pangolins were successfully rehabilitated and released into the wild.

“My ministry is currently in the process of releasing three elephant calves into Chobe National Park after successful rehabilitation.

Following the release of the three elephants, two rhino orphans and seven elephants will remain under rehabilitation and will be released once there are ready to survive in the wild,” she added.

Selebi Phikwe East MP, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana, had asked the minister to give an update on the ministry’s policy on rescue, capture and handling of injured and orphaned animals.

Mr Nkawana also wanted the minister to state the types of licenses issued and their cost. He further wanted to know what became of the captured animals once they had fully recovered as well as how many had been rehabilitated and released back into the wild. ENDS