19 Jun 2022

 Marauding wild dogs in the Okavango area have become a concern for the North West District councillors and they want them captured.

Councillors made the call during the ongoing council meeting and requested the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) to capture and relocate them far away from people and livestock.

Boro/Senonori Ward councillor, Mr Kenson Kgaga emphasised the need for the department to act quickly, saying failure to do so would result in farmers resorting to killing the animals, which ravaged their calves and goats.

However, he regretted that killing the animals would make them extinct.

On the other hand, Gumare/Tubu South councillor, Mr Keobinetse Matenanga reiterated that the damage caused by wild dogs had gotten out of control, especially that the animals continued to cause damage no matter what strategies farmers applied to scare them.

He thus implored the DWNP to expedite capturing the animals because they were multiplying and killing even more livestock.

Council chairperson, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotho advised officers to engage experts to track and observe the wild dogs’ feeding patterns.

He said after feeding, the female wild dogs returned to their offspring to regurgitate and that should help the tracking team to locate the dogs’ dens for capture.

Acting regional wildlife officer- Ngamiland Mr Modiri Mogopa told councillors that their office had received the request to capture the wild dogs for relocation.

However, he said they had been delayed to act on the request because they did not have a pilot for their helicopter.

He also acknowledged the councillors’ suggestions and assured them that they would address their concerns so that the wild dogs do not cause further damage.

Mr Mogopa further said the regional office would work closely with the Gumare wildlife office to ensure that the concerns of people in Okavango were attended to.

Meanwhile, councillors suggested to the DWNP to contact the Botswana Defence Force or some private companies to assist them with a helicopter pilot so that the wild dogs could be located, captured and relocated in the quickest time possible. ENDS