Elephants cause havoc
22 February, 2007

From The Botswana Daily News

FRANCISTOWN - Elephants are reported to be causing havoc in the northern part of Botswana, by destroying field crops and farm properties.

Farmers are therefore calling upon government to act swiftly and protect their field crops and properties from the destructive elephants.

The issue has caused heated debate in many of the kgotla meetings addressed by MPs and ministers in the northern parts of the country.

Many farmers are said to be losing hope in farming as the elephants negate their efforts. They have suggested that an electric cordon fence be erected to prevent the marauding animals from entering into their fields.

Latest in the list of fields destroyed by the elephants is at Goloshabe in the Tonota area. One farmer, Tlhabologo Mmolawa, claims that elephants have destroyed his eleven hectare maize field.

Mr Mmolawa said in November last year, he ploughed maize, peanuts and water melons in his field, and in February this year, elephants came and destroyed his crops.

He said he reported the matter to the wildlife officials in Mmadinare who promised to act swiftly, but surprisingly the officers did not show up.

Mr Mmolawa said recently elephants came and destroyed the remaining crops and even demolished his field fence.

I have now lost hope, I phoned the director of wildlife in Gaborone she promised that by today her officers will be here but until now they have not showed up, he said.

However, senior wildlife officer in Francistown, Mr Thuso Jonas, told BOPA that it is true that elephants are destroying fields.

Even now we have received a report that elephants have destroyed a dam fence in Tutume and my officers are going there, he said.

Mr Jonas said the Nata/Gweta area has experienced an influx of elephants than ever before because the animals have multiplied.

He said the farmers whose fields have been destroyed are compensated after the wildlife department has made an assessment. About the destroyed field fences, the wildlife department pays 50 per cent of the replacement value.

He said they are currently addressing kgotla meetings to tell farmers what to do if elephants have destroyed their crops.

He dismissed allegations by Mr Mmolawa that his fields were extensively damaged by the elephants saying, Mr Mmolawa could not tell me what has been destroyed and in what quantities..

Mr Jonas added that Mr Mmolawa failed to direct them to his place but instead said many people have a similar problem and therefore the wildlife officials can just go there and meet everyone. BOPA

Sign me up. I'm ready to go provide some relief.

can you spell PAC hunt????

Expect that to happen if you have 100,000 elephants too many ...

In fairness to the BW Game Dept they have (finally)launched or are going to lauch a couple of initiatives to increase the number of Elephants that can be hunted. (Albeit a bit bloody late in the day!) One option is/will be to buy a permit or permits at auction. (this also happened on a smaller scale last year) These permits come with export licence etc and the hunting takes place around the areas just outside of towns such as Selibe Pikwe etc and they are also planning to allow overseas hunters to take non exportable/PAC Elephants in other areas such as Tuli Block etc where currently the only person allowed to take them is the landowner himself.

Prices haven't been finalised yet but I'd guess the first option would be around US$15K-20K and the second option around US$12K-15K. Both prices will include all camp fees and trophy fee on one Elephant. - My crystal ball tells me that multiples will probably be available.

We haven't started to market these yet as we're still waiting on final prices etc. and depending on how many are available to us may offer them to previous clients first, but if anyone wants to go on the list to be contacted if we don't sell them to past clients please let me know.

Sorry I can't be more precise on the pricing at the moment but it's still being discussed and of course the very nature of an auction will mean I can't predict the exact sale price.

shakari, that is good news, for everyone concerned, including the elephants.

I hope it comes to pass.

Another familiar story where they're working on African time. . .Sign me up.