The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has appealed to local community members to adopt traditional, indigenous knowledge systems to mitigate human-wildlife conflict rather than resorting to lethal practices like poisoning.
The plea was made by North West District Acting Regional Wildlife Coordinator, Thebeyakgosi Horatius, during a Kgotla meeting convened in Nxaraga this week.
The meeting was organised to sensitise residents to the severe ecological impacts of using chemicals and toxins against wild animals.
This crucial government intervention follows a devastating poisoning incident near Nxaraga and the Xudumela Conservancy, where an entire breeding pack of 21 endangered African wild dogs, including adults and puppies, was found dead. The toxic chain reaction also resulted in the deaths of seven vultures that are suspected to have consumed the contaminated wild dog carcasses.
Addressing the gathering, Horatius noted that chemical warfare against predators is unsustainable and highly illegal. He strongly advocated for an immediate return to eco-friendly, non-lethal indigenous knowledge management systems that historical communities utilized to co-exist peacefully with predators.
Horatius highlighted that indigenous knowledge practices which include livestock husbandry, animal traps, constructing well-structured traditional kraals, and collaborative community monitoring are safer and far more effective than chemical retaliation.
Horatius has encouraged residents to actively herd their livestock in order to protect it from the predators and to stop blaming wildlife officers. He suggested other tactics such as herding dogs that can protect livestock from predators.
He encouraged the residents to report problem animal incidents directly to the DWNP, citing that reporting such incidents is very important as it provides the department with critical information that may be needed to inform compensation policies.
Horatius has further criticised wildlife poisoning, warning that it triggers a devastating ripple effect, endangering vital ecosystem scavengers like birds and vultures. He said that wildlife poisoning harms tourism as it may drive visitors away from popular safari destinations, which in return destroys local jobs.
On the other hand, in a major step toward mitigating the ongoing friction between local farmers and predatory wildlife, the Xudumela Conservancy has officially announced that it is currently facilitating the implementation of the Herding for Health programme in the Nxaraga area.
The initiative aims to safeguard local livestock and foster a safer environment for coexistence by empowering communal farmers with modern pastoral strategies.
This was revealed by Xudumela Conservancy Director, John Barclay, during the meeting.
According to Barclay, the program focuses heavily on equipping local herders with the tools and knowledge necessary to protect their livelihoods while preserving local biodiversity.
At its core, the Herding for Health programme targets the root causes of human-wildlife conflict. By training local herders in smart grazing methods, the initiative ensures that livestock are managed efficiently, improving rangeland health and ensuring cattle do not wander into high-risk predator zones.
