The spectre of poaching

Stories of poachers read like action packed movies of the wild, featuring small helicopters flying low, just above trees, armed with long distance rifles.  Poaching is an issue of serious concern especially for countries teeming with elephants, rhinos and other such endangered species.

What makes it more serious is that it has evolved from an occasional killing of a bird or duiker to a hugely commercialised trans-boundary game. Poachers kill elephants and rhinos for their high priced tusks. Of huge concern are poachers who illegally cross into Botswana and kill animals or in some cases capture live predator cubs. Recently, two suspected poachers from Namibia were shot by the  Botswana Defence Force (BDF).