04 Sep 2023

Botswana is home to a total of 131 909 elephants, which qualifies as the highest volume in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA).

The 2022 KAZA Elephant Survey report outlines that the estimated total number of elephant population across the KAZA region was 227 900.

The report breakdown indicated that Zimbabwe constituted the second largest quota with 65 028 elephants followed by Namibia with 21 090, Angola with 5 983 and Zambia as the least elephants habitat with 3 840.

According to the report, the distribution and density of elephants was recorded as high at permanent sources, Okavango and Chobe-Linyanti-Kwando river systems as well as part of North Matebeleland in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

Speaking at the 2022 KAZA Elephant Survey report launch in Livingstone on Thursday, The KAZA ministers, chairperson and also Minister of Tourism in Zambia, Mr Rodney Sikumba stated that the survey would be used as baseline assessment for future research.

He said the survey utilised effective aerial wildlife surveying techniques from aircraft and high quality equipment to capture data.

Mr Sikumba pointed out that previously, KAZA had consolidated results from 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020 findings, which were conducted through separate component approach. 

He however said this time the five KAZA states conducted a unified effort survey.

He highlighted that elephants were very migratory by nature as they roamed across the KAZA countries, hence he called custodians to conserve and protect this species to sustain them for future generations.

Moreover, he said KAZA states were in discussions to device strategies on how best to address human/wildlife conflict.

“We acknowledge that this natural resource that is our elephants can also pose danger to the lives of our people and as ministers of tourism we are in discussions to see how best we can compensate animal victims and I applaud Botswana and Namibia because they already made strides in that regard.”

Minister Sikumba expressed gratitude to his counterparts for playing a significant role in the project by facilitating operations and availing resources.

The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng stated that Botswana’s Transformational Agenda espoused new approaches to methodologies in achieving a knowledge-based economy.

She said the 2022 KAZA elephant survey captured accurate data that was valuable towards the advancement of sustainable conservation.

“I believe our law enforcement agencies will benefit from it in fighting anti-poaching and drafting strategies, also the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) organisations will utilise the report to drive local beneficiation for our communities,” she said.

Ms Kereng stated that the report positioned KAZA as a strategic benchmark with adequate and accurate statistics that would be used worldwide.

Furthermore, she highlighted that the report was a footstool for KAZA when they engaged in debates and deliberations with Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the rest of the world on the elephant populations and its implications on human lives.

The 2022 KAZA Elephant Survey coordinator, Mr Darren Potgieter stated that the survey commenced on August 22, 2022 culminating on October 28, 2022 covering 60 per cent of the total 519 912 square kilometres KAZA TFCA.

Mr Potgieter pointed out that the African Elephant Status Report conducted by the African Elephant Specialist Group in 2016, showed that there were a total of 216 970 elephants in the KAZA region.

In summary, he said the elephant population appeared stable in the KAZA TFCA, which he noted called for cross-border collaboration between member states to ensure elephants were protected. ends