Lions terrorise Tshwaane farmers
25 June, 2008

LETLHAKENG - A pack of lions are on the loose and terrorising farmers around Tswaane in the Letlhakeng sub-district.

The lions, which are said to be killing livestock indiscriminately, are believed to be from Kengheng and Morabi pans, which are south of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and west of the Khutse Game Reserve about 25 km north of Tswaane.

Kgosi Othusitse Sengawane of Tswaane said the lions are very close to his village and are a threat to the villagers as well.

He said over 10 cattle and donkeys have been killed by the lions since winter.

The village leader said the lions move closer to his village every winter in search of prey because wild animals migrate to other areas during the dry winter season.

He said one herd boy in his village is lucky to have survived after the lions attacked the horse he was riding.

Kgosi Sengawane urged the government to consider erecting a fence to separate wild animals and livestock in his area.

He argued that farmers would soon take the law into their hands and kill the protected and endangered animals.

An official from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the presence of lions near the village.

He said his department is trying to drive the predators back to their habitat, but that it is not easy. He added that one lion has already been killed.

The Kweneng Beef Farmers Association deputy chairperson Mr Mokwapa Ramosu said lions and other predators such as wild dogs, leopards and cheetahs are causing havoc to the livestock sub-sector in the region.

He complained that the compensation they are given when predators kill their livestock is low, arguing that registered bulls and other pedigree animals are very expensive.

He urged the government to consider compensating farmers the true value of the killed domestic animal.

Mr Ramosu also advocated for the demarcation of livestock grazing areas from wildlife zones, saying the killing of the big cats is not a solution the problem.

On the issue of stock theft, which is reported to be rampant in the region, Mr Ramosu urged the government to force all butchery operators and supermarkets to buy beef from the Botswana Meat Commission only.

He said butcheries provide a lucrative market for stolen cattle and urged the government to keep an eye on their operations. BOPA