Tutume district faces human-wildlife conflict surge
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday April 2, 2024 11:21
This was disclosed by the council chairperson Million Masumbika when addressing a Full Council meeting recently. The increasing instances of human-wildlife conflict locally comes at a time when there is mounting pressure from a UK legislator who has come up with a member's Bill that purports to ban importation of hunting trophy into the UK. Some British MPs are pushing for a law prohibiting the importation of hunting trophies to the UK as a measure to protect endangered species. Masumbika said a total of 166 human-wildlife conflict cases were received since the beginning of October to date.
“Two hundred and eighty-five cases were compensated with an amount P426 000. Thirteen cases are owed an amount of P31 000,” he said. This week Masumbika said that the wild animals particularly elephants have destroyed farms, community dams and animal barrier fences along the road in several villages making up the district. Lions and other predators kill and prey on livestock in many parts of the district, he said. Villages such as Maitengwe, Dukwi and Tutume are some of the most affected in the district according to Masumbika. Despite the severity of human-wildlife conflicts, no human injuries were reported in the last quarter. With drought conditions persisting, Masumbika anticipates further incursions by elephants and other wildlife into the district. “ This is a drought year, and the conditions will ultimately force elephants and other wildlife to seek water and food in areas they would not typically venture into, such as villages and human settlements. The challenges posed by wild animals particularly elephants to farmers have really had significant economic repercussions for local communities reliant on agriculture and livestock in recent years. Farmers in the district have been making severe losses, “he explained.
In the 2022/2023 financial year, the district recorded over 323 cases of human-wildlife conflict. Of the 323 cases, 169 were caused by elephants followed by 97 recorded reports of damages caused by lions. Nearly P5 million was used to compensate the affected farmers. The burgeoning elephant population in the nation has frequently been identified as the leading cause of a notable increase in instances of human-wildlife conflicts. Botswana currently boasts an elephant population of about 132,000. On an annual basis, the government allocates a substantial amount of funds towards compensating individuals whose properties have been damaged by wild animals, particularly elephants. Meanwhile, during the month of September last year, the district also experienced an influx of about 200 buffalos at Dukwi gate. Some the buffaloes were relocated to Kasane while others died.
However, Masumbika said that it is evident that some have remained in the district as two were spotted in Dukwi last month and one was killed in Dagwi in January 2024. He urged residents in the district particularly in areas prone to Buffalo incursion to be vigilant. The Buffaloes are also often forced by scarcity of water to evade human settlements. “Sampling and disease surveillance is ongoing especially in areas where the buffaloes were spotted.In relation to fence maintenance and rehabilitation, a cordon fence rehabilitation was recently completed on the highest buffalo incursion area extending from Dotham to Dzibanana ponds covering 17 kilometres. The government is prioritising the maintenance of border fence and inland fence to curb animal movement. The fence is strengthened by rail pillars and buffalo cables to counter easy destruction by elephants,” he said.