http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?...3/September/Monday23


41 Batswana killed by wild animals


Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
Staff Writer


At least 41 people were killed by wild animals between 2009 and 2011, with 27 of those deaths caused by mauling by lions and leopards, a statistics report shows.


According to the latest statistics report on environment leopards and lions alone accounted for 4,715 incidences of wildlife attacks on people and their livestock in Botswana. Despite the much publicised elephants destructions of people's crops, or the much talked about rowdy baboons, it is the leopard which comes out tops as the most troublesome animal in Botswana with an overwhelming 2,804 attacks on people and livestock resulting in 19 deaths in the three-year period with eight deaths by lions.

In the latest Central Statistics Environment report, the leopard beats the elephant as the most problematic with the elephants - numbering over 100,000 in Botswana - registering 2,643 incidences of human wildlife conflicts in the same period. The lion comes third as the most problematic animal with 1,911 incidences of attacks on people and their livestock.

In 2009 alone 986 attacks on humans and livestock involved leopards, 805 incidences involved lions, with elephants involved in 756. The leopard also beat both the lion and elephant as the most terrorising of them all in 2010 with 1,011 incidences of humans wildlife conflicts, 11 more than the elephants in the same period.

Baboons, considered amongst the most havoc causing animals in homes, agricultural fields and even towns, surprisingly registered a mere 141 incidences of human wildlife conflicts in the three years. They are again beaten by another cat, the cheetah, with over 270 incidences of destruction of people's property reported.

The statistics becomes even more interesting when claims against wildlife damages during the three-year period are assessed. Claims against leopards' damages reached 2,904 during the three years, followed by elephants (2,816), and lions at 2,625 claims. Also staggering is damage by wild dogs, with 1,038 claims awarded for wild dogs' damages. The CSO report also says it is the rural poor who suffer as the wild animals destroy livestock and crops.

The people of Botswana havent seen anything yet. After the poachers wipe out there prey, the big cats will have no choice but to go after domestic livestock.

Once I read that a pride of lions was only successful in about 20% of their attacks on prey whereas a single leopard was successful about 95% of the time. Stalking to a very short distance and attacking with blinding speed seems to be pretty lethal.