"The men were found in possession of an eland carcass. Hunting is not permitted inside all Game Reserves and National Parks in Botswana and the CKGR is no exception," Maribe said. However, he dismissed allegations by Survival International (SI) that the Basarwa were taken to court for killing animals that they traditionally hunt for meat as false and intended to mislead. "The allegations are intended to mislead and deceive the gullible so as to further circulate and amplify the falsehoods originating from the London-based advocacy group," he said. He added that SI is aware that poaching is illegal in Botswana.
He explained that current and former residents of the CKGR are issued with special licences to hunt in Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) adjacent to CKGR so that they can have access to game meat. "Applications for a special game hunting licence are made and assessed on an individual basis to the Director of Wildlife and National Parks. Each application is considered on its own merits. Government has made it clear that the applicants (with their spouses and children) who wish to return to the CKGR, are free to do so," he said.
