Lost Young Elephant Has Been Found

The young female elephant which has lost its herd has been found but she ran away from the rescue team.

This was revealed by Boago Poloko of Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation which has volunteered to search and translocate the young female to safety from human residential areas.

Poloko explained ‘we want to translocate her to avoid any potential danger she may pose to people. We managed to track her to the old rice farm in Boro. ‘

Poloko added that they failed to dart the elephant for transportation as she ran away from the team trying to save her.’ We will locate her again tomorrow. We hope we will be successful this time. Our plan is to transport her back to the buffalo fence to stop any potential danger she may pose to the public.’

He stated that the young elephant is older for them to consider putting her in their orphanage. ‘she is older to survive on her own. We hope that once she is in the delta she would be able to locate her herd. She is a female, therefore, bulls will be friendly to her so she would find other companions,'

He added that the young elephant is, however, looking thin probably having lost weight from the stress of being alone and not eating well.

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Has DWNP Ignored Private Researchers To The Sidelines In The Elephants Deaths Investigation ?

Some private wildlife experts and scientists are not happy of being side-lined by Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in the ongoing mysterious disease outbreak investigation that has killed almost 160 elephants in the Okavango delta Panhandle.

However, Regional Wildlife coordinator Dimakatso Ntshebe was quick to refute that his department has elbowed aside private researchers saying: ‘our door is open. Everyone interested to offer us help is welcome.’

158 elephants have as of today (Wednesday) died from a mysterious disease outbreak in the panhandle which started  on May 11. The department is still awaiting sample results it has taken to an unnamed South African laboratory. Identification of the cause of the mysterious disease has so far remained elusive.  

Experts in the private space speaking with journalist Boniface Keakabetse have stated that, ideally, to halt the disease, the Government should have sought collaboration between researchers and other experts for the investigation.

An expert speaking in a condition of anonymity asked rhetorically: “What I can’t understand is why DWNP wants to handle it themselves. Why did they only involve the National Vetlab much later? Why not put together a team of experts in the veterinary, epidemiology and ecology fields from both government and the private sector.  History such as the COVID-19 outbreak has shown that such public private partnerships is most effective in limiting where applicable diseases outbreak.”

The expert explained that experience and a wider variety of experts assist investigators to appreciate more factors that may be involved and to make the list of possibilities as extensive as possible.’ It allows for determining a battery of tests that will give you the desired result as soon as possible.’

Further the expert  stated the veterinary and medical diagnostic process works in layers and on principles of epidemiology, especially when populations are involved. “With initial examination, you get a picture of all things that may be involved or linked to the deaths; number of deaths , species , age, distribution of location of deaths, other species involved, food, water, climate and microscopic post mortal changes and others.  You then form a list of various possibilities and take samples to test for that. Samples not only include samples of dead animals but water, plants etc. if all the possibilities test negative, you review your initial examination and look wider for other possibilities.”

Meanwhile the DWNP regional coordinator denied that any researcher ever came to their office offering their services. We welcome any help whether in form of expertise or resources.’ He explained that the only help they received was from someone who offered help to dispose the carcasses after the cause of the deaths has been identified. ‘However as the department we are busy disposing the carcasses at the moment’ Ntshebe stated.

 

‘Money is there for the operation’ Ntshebe

 Meanwhile the regional coordinator further denied that DWNP has run out of funds to continue investigating the mysterious death of elephants in Okavango panhandle.

Ntshebe said:’ it is not true we don’t have the money. What has happened is that the money in our DWNP account in the region is finished. But we have since requested for more funds from the Ministry in Gaborone. Those funds will come. This has not and would not affect anything. Our team is currently in the ground in Seronga undertaking the investigation.’

 

 

 

  

 

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Okavango Delta Poachers Now Target White Dehorned Rhinos

Two Dehorned white rhinos have gone down to poachers in Chiefs Island of Moremi Game Reserve.
The horn stubs were taken.
This follows the discovery of another white carcass at NG30 on Wednesday this week.
The government is facing an unprecedented spate of rhino poaching in the delta with more than 50 rhinos said to have been killed.
To control the scourge government translocated all black rhinos from delta and dehorned whites. There has been debate elsewhere that however, dehorning is not a deterrent for poaching as some poachers can even shoot dehorned animals in revenge.
Since the lockdown, the occurrence of poaching had gone down. Lots of poachers have been killed by antipoaching unit but it appears they keep on coming.
One source stated "these guys are residents there. There work in shifts and take turns to poach."
But Botswana this week sent a

warning to poachers that the country will never run short of body bags.

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South African Experts's Botswana Elephant Statement Misleading-Botswana experts

The statement reportedly uttered by respected South African elephant expert Ron Thomson linking Okavango elephant deaths to overpopulation is ridiculous and misleading, according to elephant experts in Botswana. since May 11, Botswana's  Okavango panhandle has been experiencing mysterious elephant deaths. Almost a month later, authorities here are still struggling to identify the cause of deaths. 

Thomson is a qualified field ecologist who has 58 years of experience working in Africa’s national parks and management systems. Yesterday a tweet by Johannesburg based Environmental journalist, Emmanuel Kolo quoted Thomson saying he ruled out disease as the cause of deaths in Botswana. ‘Thomson says what he had long predicted is now happening –deaths caused by elephant overpopulation.’

In Botswana, experts have not been amused by Thomson’s statement. A leading veterinarian stated: ‘that’s an oversimplification. Overpopulation itself does not cause death. It leads to stress in individuals which makes them more susceptible to disease. Its these disease outbreaks that cause death. Until we know what the cause of all the deaths is, we will not be able to say it is related to overpopulation.’

Okavango Research Institute Professor of Tourism Studies Joseph explained that while he believes Botswana is overpopulated with elephants however, he does not agree with Thomson.

Regional wildlife coordinator Dimakatso Ntshebe rhetorically asked why the elephants would die during the green season while they did not die during the bad drought last year. Ntshebe does not as well agree that overpopulation is the cause of death as Thomson states.

Ntshebe added:’ what we believe is that the deaths are caused by a disease and we are investigating. We have sent samples for testing in South Africa and we are waiting for results. We continue to take more samples every day and send it to the veterinary lab for tests. Currently, we have theories on what could be the source of deaths and we continue to sample’ he said.

Meanwhile, Ntshebe stated that more than 130 elephants have died. However other sources state that the toll is now more than 160. Ntshebe revealed that the intensity of the discovery of the new carcasses has decreased adding that however, they continue to record new cases.

 

 

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Is Botswana Losing Battle Against Rhino Poachers?

The Okavango Delta poaching has become an issue of serious national and international concerns.

Our rising rhino poaching is a serious national and international concern that needs an immediate targeted response to contain. As it stands it looks like we have already lost 16 rhinos in the delta since 1 April 2019. This is simply unprecedented and horrific.

It is time to show these poachers that Botswana is a country of law and order.

New President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s party Botswana Democratic Party was in October re-elected amid fanfare and national hope to move Botswana forward.  One could only hope that as part of his drive to push Botswana forward, President Masisi administration will quickly address the Rhino poaching in the delta. Otherwise, all these rhinos would be gone.

Delivering the state of the Nations address on 18 November 2019, President Mokgweetsi   Masisi stated that the Government continues to build capacity to counter the growing threat of wildlife poaching and trafficking. One would have hoped the president would touch on rhino poaching which is undoubtedly an issue of national concern given the state of ongoing poaching in the delta. But he did not. However, it goes without saying that the emerging rhino poaching needs support from the top office in the land to be contained.

A press release by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, issued on October 4, 2019, stated: The increased poaching of rhinos is deeply worrying in a country that has over the last few years received rhinos in an effort to safeguard and revive rhino populations.

 “Botswana does not have many wild rhinos, our population is relatively small” said Dr. Mmadi Reuben, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Rhino Coordinator in Botswana. “We have been losing about a rhino a month to poaching; losing two in one week is unacceptable. If the poaching continues at this rate there will be no rhinos in Botswana in a year or two, especially the black rhino a ‘critically endangered species” This will be a huge loss for the country with a strict and strong anti-poaching policy, which the Government has committed immense resources.

The release further stated: “The anti-poaching forces have now placed the protection of rhinos and location of these poaching gangs as their highest priority, with two poachers having lost their lives during operations recently. However, as is well known, the Okavango is a very large area with difficult wetland terrain, which these poachers are using to their advantage. Engaging the communities in the Okavango Delta to increase awareness as well as the private sector and NGOs will also be crucial in the fight against wildlife crime.

The press release revealed that 9 rhinos had been taken out by poachers from 1 April 2019 at the time.

However, even more, worrying is the fact that more rhinos have died to poaching since the release was issued more than a month back. Seven more rhino’s carcasses were recently discovered. This means 16 rhinos have already gone down to poachers.

At this rate, poachers will finish all the rhinos in the delta. And we need to act.

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Botswana Army Officers Shoot and Kill Two Rhino Poachers in the Okavango Delta

Two suspected rhino poachers were allegedly killed in a fire exchange with the army officers in the Mombo area of the Okavango Delta.

Acting Maun station commander Samuel told media that Four Botswana Defence Force (BDF) reportedly shot and killed the poachers in the Mombo area of the Okavango Delta on Sunday.

Kgomo said the four officers were on patrol and saw the poachers’ tracks. Shortly they heard a gunshot in the distance. Moving the direction of the sound, the officers saw a female black rhino with a young one in flight. The mother rhino had evident gun wounds and was running from the poachers. The officers pulled an ambush knowing the poachers will be following it. True to their suspicions the poachers appeared. Once seeing the officers the poachers did not waste time as they shot at the BDF officers who in retaliation killed them in the fire exchange. The rhino was later found dead a short distance away leaving its young one.

The bodies of the suspected poachers are currently at Letsholathebe II in Maun for investigations.  The army discovered a .375 rifle in possession of the deceased poachers. The nationalities of the suspected poachers are still unknown but there are suspicions they may be Namibians.

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Safari Guide form Elephants Protection Society

A local safari guide Oaitse Nawa has formed a non-governmental organization called Elephants Protection Society which strives to prevent deadly contacts between communities with elephants.

The organisation incorporated this year aims to create a pleasant environment between animals and humans to safeguard human life and conservations ideals.

The organization formation comes as the country and the district continue to experience incidents of human deaths caused by elephants. Nawa’s organisation aims to prevent this worrying trend.  “I have been active in Boro area scaring elephants away from becoming in to contact with farmers in the area. This is a dry period and therefore competition for water resources between wildlife and humans is expected to increase.’

‘Majority of people affected by the increasing movements of elephants into the farm areas is mostly the poor farmers who do not have the means to fend for themselves. These are the people who need help for elephants to be chased back into the protection areas set for them.’

Nawa continued: ‘people these days are no longer free to visit their cattle posts freely as it used to happen in the past years. This can affect food security at a family and even at the national level and therefore our organization aims to help the situation.’

He explained that currently the Department of Wildlife and National Parks is this on the ground as the Anti-Poaching is incapacitated to even drive the elephants back from farming areas on a regular basis. Nawa explained that recently he has been singularly driving elephants in Boro and in Botshabelo just behind the Maun airport. ‘Part of the problem we have is that DWNP is failing to drive away elephants from contact with humans.’

Nawa said his organization will soon be launched saying part of the launch activities will including a walk to raise funds to sink boreholes in protected to prevent elephants from going into human settlements in search for water.

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