http://allafrica.com/stories/201401240031.html



Botswana: Hunting Ban Takes Effect
23 JANUARY 2014


PRESS RELEASE

The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism's (MEWT) ban on wildlife hunting commenced at the beginning of the year, says ministry spokesperson, Ms Caroline Bogale-Jaiyoba. Ms Bogale-Jaiyeoba said the ban wa...s on all controlled hunting areas or hunting management units throughout the country.

Hunting of allocated quotas had been taking place in many of these designated areas, but no quotas would be issued in the areas anymore, she said.

She noted that the decision to temporarily ban hunting was necessitated by the evident decline of several wildlife species in the country. "The causes of the decline are due to a combination of factors such as anthropogenic impacts, including illegal off take and habitat fragmentation or loss," noted Ms Bogale-Jaiyeoba, adding that the countrywide aerial survey of 2012, and an analysis of trends since 1987, showed significant overall declines in particular of tsessebe, sitatunga, lechwe and springbok.

The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism's (MEWT) ban on wildlife hunting commenced at the beginning of the year, says ministry spokesperson, Ms Caroline Bogale-Jaiyoba.

Ms Bogale-Jaiyeoba said the ban wa...s on all controlled hunting areas or hunting management units throughout the country.

Hunting of allocated quotas had been taking place in many of these designated areas, but no quotas would be issued in the areas anymore, she said.

She noted that the decision to temporarily ban hunting was necessitated by the evident decline of several wildlife species in the country. "The causes of the decline are due to a combination of factors such as anthropogenic impacts, including illegal off take and habitat fragmentation or loss," noted Ms Bogale-Jaiyeoba, adding that the countrywide aerial survey of 2012, and an analysis of trends since 1987, showed significant overall declines in particular of tsessebe, sitatunga, lechwe and springbok.

"Of particular concern, however, is the fact that all the surveyed species except elephant and impala declined in at least one protected area."

She said this was noteworthy as protected areas were traditionally considered to be wildlife refuges. Ms Bogale-Jaiyeoba said no hunting licences would be issued with the exception of birds under conditions to be specified by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).

She, however, said game ranchers would be allowed to hunt species classified as game animals that are confined inside appropriate fencing under the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act.

Ms Bogale-Jaiyeoba further noted that the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act prescribed penalties for anyone who hunted without a licence. The hunting moratorium also prescribes penalties for those who capture or hunt during the period of the ban.

She said the DWNP and other law enforcement agencies would intensify monitoring and continue to monitor the status of wildlife species during the ban and provide regular reports to the nation.

"The ban will remain in place as long as it takes to understand the causes of wildlife declines and for measures to reverse the causes of declines to take effect" she said. BOPA

Little dicky bird told me that communities are not happy about this and are peeking across the Namibian border and looking at their communal conservancies.

The decline of Sitatunga and Tsessebe has bugger all to do with safari hunting and Sitatunga have been off license for sometime. Besides how do you count Sitatunga?

Thanks Kathi.

Plus, fairgame, that study (an aerial survey) concluded that Kudu had declined by something like 84%.

Hell! Sometimes it's hard to make them out when they're standing right in front of you. How you gonna count them from a plane?

I think the whole study is bogus; not to mention the fact that it has never been released, just the press report. Highly suspicious.

Folks,

Let's hope the operative word in this peice is "Temporary" which is the concensus of the Bots operators I've spoken to.

Mark

typical government 1st we make a fool decision and then cover it with bullchit

quote:

how do you count Sitatunga?

You can only accomplish that if you are a government bureaucrat.

Does anyone know anything about the rumor circulating that this closure has something to do with getting rid of certain outfitters that the government felt were abusing the system?

http://www.sundaystandard.info...wsID=18222&GroupID=1


Khama used to settle personal scores with hunting safari owners - claim

by Calistus Bosaletswe
20-10-2013

Safari operators claim that resident National Geographic film maker, Dereck Joubert had an axe to grind with some owners of hunting safaris in the Okavango and used his friendship with President Khama to influence the ban against trophy hunting. Joubert who own Selinda Reserve in the Okavango delta has confirmed meeting President Khama where he raised concern about trophy hunting.

Safari owners claim that Joubert is President Khama’s close friend and that he influenced Khama to ban trophy hunting to get back at unnamed individuals who owns hunting safaris in the Okavango Delta and Chobe. Joubert latest post in his Facebook page dubbed “The Last Lions” in which he states that people should not be worried about losing jobs because he will take over the hunting concession areas and transfer them into photographic has touched off public outrage. In an interview with Sunday Standard, Mochaba Development, Director, Debbie Peake says Joubert was influential in the decision to ban trophy hunting and this was meant to sabotage some individuals in the hunting safari. Peake stated that Joubert who he says has a deep and respected friendship with people in power has long been anti hunting. She lamented that many people were going to lose jobs as a result of the move, an observation shared by a recent BIDPA report. Peake said that a number of hunting safari owners have already sent their staff to Joubert following his Facebook post.

“He is being rush. His position against hunting safari is a result of a personal vendetta against some individuals. He just makes wild claims that are not scientifically proven. His sentiments are just a public stunt meant to put him on the map as a National Geographic filmmaker,” said Peake.

She said that they were concerned about Joubert’s statement that he will take over the hunting concessions which are usually put out to tender. She further said that this shows that Joubert had plans to take over the concessions because he is influential. She said the decision to ban trophy hunting was not based on scientific evidence but on emotions. Safari Botswana Bound also stated that close to three thousand people will lose their jobs as result of the hunting ban. Safari Botswana Bound, Director, Graeme Pollock told Sunday Standard that Joubert was not aware of the number of people who will lose jobs.

Pollock says the filmmaker has been very vigilant in his quest to make sure that the hunting safari’s companies closes business. He says that Joubert has no scientific information to back his claim that hunting was detrimental to wildlife species. Joubert confirmed meeting Khama and hailed the decision to ban hunting. He dismissed claims that he could have influenced Khama to ban hunting in Botswana. “I don’t have influence in the decision making process of government. When you see the decline of wildlife species hunting and poaching cannot be tolerated. I had a conversation with the president and I don’t think I should be held responsible for influencing the ban because one person cannot influence such a decision”, said Joubert. He said that he made his opinion known and the decision came from the president himself.

As usual, Joubert is doing exactly what all the so called "conservationists" have always done.

He wants to line his own pockets!

What a bloody idiot!

Joubert will need very deep pockets to pay the wages of all the staff of the outfitters, who lost their jobs. I would like to know how he plans to make enough money out of photographic safaris to pay for the leases, nevermind paying wages.

Where will the meat come from for the protein starved communities.

My opinion is that he will not be able to support all the families who lost an income and they will revert to poaching to feed their families, which in turn will have a big negative effect on the wildlife. With trophy male specimens are taken out, they will kill everything and who will control that or check up on the poaching in that vast areas? We must remember that they know the areas like the palm of their hand and the know the habits of the animals very well.

I rest my case.