The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in North West District is said to have has recorded 20 poaching incidences with 42 suspects from the month of April to date.
The nature of the offences range from hunting without permits to unlawful possession of government trophy and selling of game meat without a permit.
This was revealed by North West District Council Chairman, Itumeleng Kelebetseng during the full council meeting this week. Most of these cases are still to be prosecuted, Kelebetseng highlighted.
Kelebetseng has lamented that poaching in the district is still a concern more especially bush meat poaching during the winter season. He said that bush meat poaching targets giraffes, buffalo, impala, kudu, zebra and other game animals.
Kelebetseng has advised the communities to refrain from taking part on these illegal activities as they directly affect tourism which contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment in the district
“The Department of Wildlife and National parks collaborates with other stakeholders such as the Botswana Police Services, Botswana Defence Force and other stakeholders to fight the scourge,” he said.
Kelebetseng further highlighted that North West District is characterised by both compensatory and non-compensatory species reports and such species include wilddogs, leopards, elephants (compensatory), kudu, jackals and hyenas etc. which are non-compensatory, which are frequently causing severe damage to livestock, field crops and other properties.
According to him, the district was allocated an amount of P5 000 000 for payment of compensation for financial year 2025/2026 and to date a total of 453 farmers were compensated funds amounting to P2 592 767.90 while 211 reports are pending to be compensated funds amounting to P467 459.60.
“A total of 411 reports are awaiting attendance and assessment. The district has experienced reports exacerbated by invasion of problem elephants hence the destruction of human properties especially at Haina veldt ranches. Although preventative methods of scaring were used it was sometime difficult to use due to dense vegetation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kelebetseng has advised the public to avoid swimming in river as this endangers their lives due to animals’ attacks or drowning. He highlighted that there is an increase of flooding in Thamalakane River and this brings along dangerous aquatic animals like crocodiles, snakes and hippos and as a result the community is advised to take precautionary measures to avoid being attacked by these animals.
He also encouraged the community to report dangerous animals’ sightings promptly and desist from engaging in risky activities that might end with loss of life or injury.
