Searching for solutions to co-exist with elephants

Dr Tempe showing the anti-elephants disco lights in Moeti's farm PIC. THALEFANG CHARLES
Dr Tempe showing the anti-elephants disco lights in Moeti's farm PIC. THALEFANG CHARLES

While the population of elephants is dwindling elsewhere in the forests of the world, Botswana, particularly the Chobe region, has seen an unprecedented explosion of their numbers. This has led to a difficult human-wildlife conflict that calls for urgent attention. Staff Writer THALEFANG CHARLES travelled to Chobe and met the communities and conservationists battling to find solutions to co-exist with elephants

To western tourists and many conservationists, an elephant is an iconic and elegant animal with feelings, which has to be protected. But to Mozwaze Moeti, a farmer at Seriba village along the Chobe Enclave, an elephant is a destructive animal that keeps condemning her into abject poverty.

For ages Moeti and her community of farmers have been employing various strategies to chase away the elephants from destroying the crops in their small fields.

Editor's Comment
Stakeholders must step up veggie supply

The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...

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