Eland could be the next kgomo

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Correspondent | Wednesday August 29, 2007 00:00

For years, the eland or 'phofu' in Setswana has remained one of the most endangered species that can never be hunted.  It is rarely seen too due to its dwindling population in the wild.

The picture could soon change though thanks to a pilot project by the Wildlife Department that aims at not only breeding more eland, but to domesticate them for the benefit of local communities.

The eland is a huge beast, much bigger than your average cow. It is not only a rare wild animal to find in Botswana, but there are myths about this wild animal worshipped by the San for thousands of years.

Its images appear most frequently on San cave rock paintings across Africa. The ancient San believed this animal was sacred and that it possessed supernatural powers. It was literally worshipped as a god.

Who would have thought that this wild animal would one day be tamed to join domesticated animals under the care of local farmers? 

The wildlife department has steered a pilot project aimed at taming this kgomo -like beast into the pastoral life of Batswana, and things are going fine.  The animal has already been milked like a cow and its milk enjoyed by those responsible for taming it. It has also been trained to pull sledges, as well as to communicate with its herd boys.

At the just ended Kweneng North Agricultural District show in Lentswe Le Tau, domesticated elands were on show to enlighten farmers about the pilot project, now on going at Dithopho farm, 20 km west of Lephephe.  Inquisitive faces at the Lentswe le Tau show saw a bull, and three female elands with two calves. One of the calves was brand new having been born the previous night. The animals looked calm, and were fed water from the trawl as the crowd watched inquisitively. 

According to Gami Gabriel, a senior wildlife scout in Molepolole, no one has embarked on taming the animals before, but their pilot project is aimed at eventually handing the domesticated eland over to the Lentsweletau community to benefit from them.
The area MP, Moeng Pheto, said he was aware of the pilot project, which he hoped, would boost his area as a tourists destination as the eland is a rare species.

Gabriel says taking care of the eland is not different from taking care of cattle as both animals have a lot of similarities.  However, he said in their pilot project, they have observed that the male eland has a shorter life span than its female counter part. 'Like cattle, elands are also susceptible to drought. They need to be fed in drought years,' he told his audience as they watched the animals in their makeshift kraal at the show.
The eland stall seemed to excite people most as many of them were seeing this wild animal for the very first time.  People raised one question after the other as they wanted to learn from the wildlife officers how they could be helped to keep their own elands.
One thing is clear, in the next few years, people in this country will be able to make a choice between rearing cattle as it is the tradition and the new venture, keeping elands, as domesticated animals.

Gabriel, the wildlife official at the show says this is one area of diversification they are convinced they can contribute just like they did with the taming of guinea fowls.