UB hosts public lecture on rhino poaching

Correspondent | Tuesday August 16, 2016 15:44

 

“In light of the Bots50 celebrations, we need to remind ourselves of the challenges bedevilling our natural heritages. Our oblivion towards challenges threatening our natural ecosystems can only be catastrophic! This will be the opportunity for your media house to interact with Dr John Hanks who has written a book on the issue,” says a statement from UB.

The statement further says that poaching for ivory has become a serious international problem for governments, conservationists and wildlife management agencies across the world. Southern Africa’s rhino population has been heavily decimated by poachers in the past few decades.

Botswana’s rhinos and elephants have not been an exception in anyway and the country’s anti-poaching and law enforcement agencies have their own experiences in curbing this phenomenon. “As part of our community outreach, on August 17, 2016, BirdLife Botswana and UB are organising a public lecture from Dr. John Hanks, at the UB, Faculty of Business auditorium. This will be a high end public lecture where we anticipate the presence of the Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism amongst other senior government dignitaries”.

Furthermore, the statement describes John as a seasoned investigative journalist/ecologist with over 30 years’ experience investigating the covert world of syndicates involved in ivory poaching and its black market trading.

He has published several books on poaching syndicates. The title of his lecture will be “Trade in rhino horns and Operation Lock”.

The objectives of the public lecture are:

 

* To give a deeper insight into the nature of organised syndicate ivory poaching from a journalist perspective.

* To share eye-opening investigative findings into the real issues compounding ivory poaching.

* To launch a book on rhino poaching

* To provide platform to stimulate conversations on ivory poaching and implications on Botswana’s wildlife.

TSOGI BETHEL*