Hundreds March For Animal Conservation
Zolani Kraai | Monday October 9, 2017 16:26
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.
“My short-term plan as the ambassador is to divert my attention from the north of Botswana to Kgalagadi, where there is a huge population of lions that are also, if not preserved, face extinction from either smuggling or through poaching,” she said.
Thutlwe said for Gaborone to be the host city symbolises solidarity in animal welfare, and that animal conservation awareness should not just be centred on wildlife management and tourism-rich areas. Minister Khama proselytised that as much as it is important for humans to value their lives, Batswana should in their daily lives collectively strive to value wildlife.
He also said Botswana has a unique wildlife conservation sphere as it is regarded as the only country in the world where rhinos population is largely increasing. “Botswana is safe haven to about 220,000 elephants, with a lion population of 4,500. We currently have 55 lions in captivity and plans are underway to relocate them to safer places such as the Gaborone Game Reserve,” Khama said.
At the march, GEMFER proceeds were donated to Tlhokomela, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, and Children of the Wilderness.
“These are charities located near endangered species population and as such, they have projects that complement awareness of wildlife conservation, especially those that we are raising awareness about,” GEMFER coordinator, Tammy McAllister said.
Amongst the celebrities who attended the walk was Nunu Ramogotsi and former Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows player Gordon Gilbert, who is currently with Wilderness Safari’s Children of Wilderness.