Ngami Times

July 29-August 5, 2011

The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism says there has been no decision made to ban wildlife hunting.

Instead, what is being done is to encourage photographic tourism and gradually limit but not ban wildlife hunting. “It must be known that species with declining numbers will be considered for limited hunting while those with increasing numbers like elephants, will continue to be hunted within CITES framework,” says Mable Bolele, the Coordinator, Communications, Research and Development within the ministry. She said that on July 13 and 14, the ministry and other stakeholders organised a two-day training workshop for local media practitioners on poverty and environmental reporting.

“It was at this workshop that the ministry spokesperson highlighted the benefits of photographic tourism to Community Trusts in the country as compared to just issuing hunting quotes during a discussion on Community Based Resource National Management (CBNRM). There was no reference to hunting ban. Unfortunately, he was quoted out of context,” Bolele said. The Botswana government, she emphasised, has no plan to ban hunting in this country “and we would like to assure all hunting safari companies and affected communities that live near wildlife management areas that continue to benefit from hunting. The story published in a Gaborone newspaper does not reflect current government thinking on the subject of wildlife hunting.” Meanwhile, the government is being encouraged to recognise and encourage community participation in natural resource management, and to harness both private and industry research and address the real causes for the decline in animal concentrations.

This follows a recent address by Mike Chase, of the Kasane-based Elephant Without Borders research project, presented in Maun the re4sulkts of an aerial survey of wildlife in northern Botswana.

The presentation was attended by key members of the photographic and hunting industry and researchers and was hosted by the Botswana Wildlife Management Association (BWMA).

An analysis of the survey, the first independent aerial survey in Botswana and which was conducted in October 2010 together with an analysis of census data from previous Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) surveys displayed declines in certain wildlife species notably tsessebe, lechwe and wildebeest. The area surveyed covered 74 000 sq km with the principal objective to provide relatively precise and accurate estimates of wildlife species using a methodology that may be repeated. Aerial surveys are generally conducted every two years and in the past, the DWNP conducted both wet and dry season counts but due to financial and capacity constraints the last DWNP aerial survey was in 2004. Elephant in northern Botswana are estimated at 140 000, but according to the survey figures numbers are stabilising. “Factors influencing these declines are long periods of drought followed by increasing flood water, veld fires, poaching, veterinary fences and expanding human encroachment into wildlife habitat,” Chase found. Industry members, together with researchers from national and private research projects questioned Chase at length on increased poaching activities, and said that with no prosecutions, is a concern together with loss of habitat for wildlife due to flood waters. “Further reviews and analysis of trend data was recommended, together with a cohesive and collaborative effort by the research fraternity to address the causes of the declines and provide solutions, especially in the Okavango Delta. “Due to recent budgetary cuts within the DWNP, the industry felt it is critical to continue these research efforts and the government is encouraged to recognize and encourage community participation in natural resource management, harness both private and industry research and address the real causes for these declines,” the BWMA said.

quote:

Elephant in northern Botswana are estimated at 140 000,

That's a lot of elephants.

Ele's are our friends and shud never ever be hunted because they are Endangered...

I hunt ele's because the are my friends and because they aren't endangered.

I want to hunt eles because they taste good.

SSR

And I want to hunt eles again someday because they are the best animal to hunt that there is. Nothing quite compares to being inside of 15 yards of an elephant with a rifle, knowing that one of you is going to die shortly.

ele hunts bring in lots of $$