Reports of elephant poaching in Botswana are under the spotlight, with various sources in national and international media claiming that the current adverse situation is driven by anti-poaching budget cuts, disarming of anti-poaching units, poachers being spoiled for choice with wildlife finding a safe-haven in the country, and even the trophy hunting ban.
There is no doubt that these factors play some part in the rising elephant poaching incidents in Botswana. However, wildlife poaching, and in particular the poaching of elephants, is not unique to Botswana and has significantly reduced elephant populations across the African continent.
In 2014, conservationists raised concerns that the poaching syndicates decimating the East and Central African elephant populations, would move further south making southern Africa their next target. At that time, during their aerial wildlife surveys, Elephants Without Borders (EWB) noted increased poaching incidents in northern Botswana, the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, southeast Angola, and Zambia.
Botswana’s elephant population has however been stable for the last 15 years, at around 130,000 individuals, which is a testament to the country’s excellent conservation record. Nevertheless, the number of poaching incidents has been on the increase, which was confirmed by the 87 elephant carcasses recorded during the ongoing EWB aerial wildlife survey that started in July this year.
Elephant family. Image credit Francis Garrard.
The Botswana government disagrees with these recorded poaching incidents and requested a report from the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism on the extent of the recent elephant killings.
Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Unity Dow stated in a press conference in Gaborone earlier this week that the report was expected “To shed light on the major causes of death regarding the alleged massacre and assist government on making an informed decision on how best to clear the confusion and set the record straight”.
No further announcements on the report have been made by the Botswana government so far.
Recent media claims that the rise in elephant poaching could be directly attributed to the disarming of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) anti-poaching unit of automatic weapons seem questionable. This relatively small DWNP team is still armed with rifles, and has always been, and still is supported by a much larger and fully armed anti-poaching units from the Botswana Defense Force (BDF).
In a media statement, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Thato Y. Raphaka said that “Withdrawing weapons from DWNP is in line with the existing legislation, which does not allow the DWNP to own such weapons.”
Dr. Dow added in the press conference that “The call should have been to expand the army, making sure there are more army officers to ensure greater safety against poaching instead of calling to rearm the DWNP.”
However Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama believes that “There is no doubt the disarming of the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) could have contributed to the high rates of poaching in the Chobe area.”
Elephant in Chobe National Park, Botswana. Image credit Chad Chabot, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The safari tourism industry plays a vital role in Botswana’s economy, nature conservation and community development, and the country has always been a leader in eco-tourism. Many safari operators provide regular on-the-ground intelligence to the DWNP. The industry will however need to step up to the task in assisting the BDF and the DWNP in their anti-poaching efforts to counter the poaching tsunami that has started to target Southern Africa’s great elephant herds.
Examples of this are emerging in northern Botswana, where a poaching awareness group made up of a number of competing but concerned safari operators and concessionaires has been established by the private sector to assist the authorities more effectively. Commercial Director of Wilderness Safaris, Derek de la Harpe says, “Although we do not have authority to conduct any law enforcement operations, we will continue to cooperate with the responsible authorities and to provide any support that they feel is appropriate, if and when incidents do occur.”
Some stakeholders believe that Botswana needs the political will to (re-)allocate vacant concessions in Ngamiland, around the Okavango Delta and along the boundaries of Chobe National Park, which could aid in curbing the surge in wildlife poaching.
“Some of these more remote, marginal concessions would require a new type of non-consumptive wildlife tourism operation. And with vision, time and money they could potentially work for self-drive routes, mobile safaris, waterhole wildlife viewing and for tourists who are looking for space – the new luxury in today’s busy world,” says Colin Bell, Director of the safari camp organization Natural Selection.
Several elephants drinking, taken on safari in Chobe National Park, Botswana. Photo credit Ryan, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The development of now vacant concessions would not only bring additional tourism revenue for the Botswana government, but would also create employment for local communities. In terms of the poaching crisis, it would mean more eyes and ears on the ground and safari vehicles traversing large areas currently devoid of people, where poachers now have free reign.
Ian Michler, Co-Founder and Director of Invent Africa Safaris, says, “It would seem that Botswana, along with Kruger in South Africa is now being targeted. It will be a fatal mistake if we hide from the early warning signs being collected in the field.”
One of these early warning signs seems to be a worrying trend in Botswana’s elephant poaching incidents, where the vast majority of the casualties are large bulls with over 70 pounds of ivory that are seemingly being tracked and shot to order by criminal syndicates.
“We have seen how effective responses from governments and the tourism and conservation sectors working together can have significant impacts. Kenya is a great example, and look at what organizations such as African Parks and Tanzania’s PAMS Foundation have achieved. If any country is going to be able to stem poaching, it should be Botswana, as they have a great conservation record, a vibrant ecotourism sector and to date, a willing and committed government,” Michler concludes.
Featured image: Elephant at Dawn, Moremi National Park, Botswana. Image credit Mike Kendrick.
