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Botswana: Residents Call for Elephants Relocation

By Ludo Chube


Kachikau — Residents of Chobe have called for management of growing elephant population through introduction of controlled hunting through relocating them to other areas.

Speaking during the human-wildlife community forum in Kachikau recently, residents complained that the number of elephants had grown uncontrollably, leading to increased incidents of human-wildlife conflict.

"We strongly feel controlled hunting can be an effective management strategy to avoid environmental degradation and reduce the number of human-wildlife conflict," opined one of the residents, Mr Peace Shamuka.

Residents also called for increment of water ponds away from villages to drive elephant traffic away from their homes.

"If more ponds are increased out in the wild, we might see less elephants and predators in our villages as they would have water available out there," one of the residents Mr Bobby Setlhare said. Due to low rainfalls this year, there had been reports of elephants invading people's yards in search of water.



In addition, they also called for compensation by government for the loss of human lives.

Currently, government compensates farmers for damage to their property and for losses when their livestock is killed by certain predators, however no such compensation exists in the case of human live losses.

Additionally, most felt that compensation for livestock must include all animals as some like hyenas were not compensated for, despite the fact that they kill small stock.

The outgoing district commissioner, Dr Temba Mmusi, explained that the objective of the forum was to facilitate community discussions on ways of resolving human-wildlife conflict in the region.

"Another objective is to get the community's perspective on the matter and what solutions they have for resolving human-wildlife conflict," he said.

Interventions suggested were going to help develop the human-wildlife conflict strategy for Chobe.

Member of Parliament for Chobe, Mr Machana Shamukuni called for practical ideas that could be used to resolve this conflict and cautioned the community against blame games.

"I am aware that because of this conflict, livelihoods in agriculture had been lost so we need to put politics aside and engage on how best to resolve this," he said.

The forum organised by the Bio-Chobe Project, was a follow up to President Lt. Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama's kgotla meetings recently, in which he challenged communities in Chobe to come up with lasting solutions to solve human-wildlife conflict in the area.

BOPA

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Botswana: Man Dies in Lion Attack, Another in Hospital

By Kesentseng Baagedi



Ghani — A 67-year-old man of Ghani in the Okavango Sub-district recently died following an attack by a lion at Diniva cattle post.

The deceased, who was hospitalised at Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital and later succumbed to his injuries, was trying to rescue his acquaintance who was mauled by the lion suspected to have killed their livestock.

Shakawe Station Commander, Sup. Goitsemodimo Molapisi said in an interview that the deceased, together with 10 other men and armed with a gun, tracked a lion which they claimed killed their livestock.

He said the lion attacked them and injured a 65-year-old man who was recovering at Gumare Primary Hospital.

Superintendent Molapisi said the men ran for their lives safe for the deceased who tried to rescue his friend. He said the lion then left the first man to attack the deceased.



He said the victims were referred to Gumare Primary Hospital where the deceased was referred to Letsholathebe I Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Meanwhile Sup. Molapisi said a 30-year-old man of Maun was assisting the police with investigations after his unattended vehicle rolled and hit a woman who was resting under a tree waiting to catch the ferry in Mohembo West.

He said allegations are that the 83-year-old women of Gudigwa was to cross the river to the other side when the vehicle ran over her leaving her with serious wounds on the left leg.

He said she was admitted at Gumare Primary Hospital, adding that the driver if found guilty would be charged with leaving the vehicle unattended.

BOPA

They lost a good friend and a brave man.