At the front was Botswana’s ambassador for GMFER, Thea Khama who was accompanied by dignitaries like the Gaborone City Mayor, Kagiso Thutlwe and the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama, who together with other activists carried animal welfare placards and masks. Sharing the aim of the campaign prior to the march, Thea Khama, the wife of Tshekedi, said there is need to collectively conserve elephants, rhinos, lions and pangolins. She said all animal welfare stakeholders should frequently raise awareness dialogues with communities, especially those residing in areas most populated by such endangered species. Thea Khama said Botswana, like the rest of the world, commemorated the day not only to raise awareness, but also to support government efforts in combating poaching and cruelty to the most endangered species in the wilderness.
She also stated that charitable organisations such as Khama Sanctuary have since 1992 played a pivotal role in preservation of rhinos, hence the organisation needs to be capacitated to continue raising public awareness and education on the listed species. She said efforts would be made to get in touch with communities along the game reserves so as to interact with the cattle herders and others on how to preserve lions and cheetahs.
