14 June, 2006

KASANE - Chobe Enclave residents have complained about animals that threaten their lives, destroy crops and kill livestock.

The residents raised the complaints during kgotla meeting that Vice President Ian Khama addreseed in the area The meetings started at Parakarungu last Thursday. Top of the list of problems animals are elephants, hyenas, hippos, Buffalo and lions.

Residents said the destruction of crops by elephants impoverished them.

They said they never get to harvest anything and that the money they got as compensation was little.

They also complained about the state of the Ngoma to Kachikau, Satau and Parakarungu road and requested that it be tarred to cover all the villages.

Though Khama acknowledged the residents plight he said they have to live side by side with wild animals.

He said Botswana was not the only country with wild animals, it was the only country in the region that compensates for destruction and damage caused by wildlife.

Animals brought huge benefits to the country through tourism. Khama said building a fence to keep animals away from farms was not possible as that would cut their route to the river.

He said the Department of Wildlife and National Parks was currently doing trials on the use of chili bombs, as a problem animal control measure especially against elephants.

He urged Chobe Enclave residents to embrace the method, because it has proved successful in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia and other countries.

Also he called on residents to build strong kraal structures to keep predators away from their livestock.

Khama promised to request the minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism to address residents to map a way forward and come up with long-term mitigating measures against problem animals.

I'd be glad to go sort out their troubles.

Me too.

Just a little FYI. Kasane is a greal little place to spen a few non hunting days. First time that I visited was last summer. Warthogs run right through the town and Elephants shit all along the outskirts. If you walk just outside of the town you will find fresh sign.

The second time I visited was last month. The ferry from Zambia dropped my fiancee and I off late in the evening. There were no taxis so we started to walk towards Kasane which was about 2 miles. When I realised that it was going to be getting dark soon I flagged down a local and paid him for a ride into town. I can't imagine taking that walk that late in the evening. I would guess that the chances of coming upon Elephant headed for the river would have been about 50/50. Quite a place.

And they say elephants are endangered?

Jason

I have said before and will likely say again,"Thank you Kathi for your contributions to this forum."

Interesting and without commentary ussually, they are among the first I look for when coming to visit.