Africa-Press – Botswana. To minimise incidents of wildlife attacks, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and Chobe District Council has embarked on a bush clearing exercise in Kasane.
Addressing residents of Lesoma at a kgotla meeting on Friday, Minister of Justice and Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni said the debushing exercise was prompted by the recent buffalo attacks which resulted in the death of two people in Kasane.
He added that the Ministry of Environment and Tourism was working on a plan to eliminate such occurrences. He said it included equipping DWNP, intensifying patrols on animal corridors and holding consultations and educational talks with Chobe residents.
Mr Shamukuni also said the debushing would be extended to other villages in the district. He said it was disheartening that two lives were lost due to buffalo attacks.
He said the animals pounced on victims from thick bushes around residential areas.
Furthermore, the minister urged residents to alert wildlife officers whenever they saw a dangerous animal roaming in residential areas.
He said if the animal threatened people’s lives if should be shot and killed rather than wounding it because it would become even more dangerous when wounded.
The MP also advised residents to consult the Department of Forestry and Range Management when cutting trees in their homes and vicinity.
He said residents were allowed to cut trees after approval by authorities contrary to claims that the public was prohibited to cut or prune trees.
In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Lesoma Lesoma of Lesoma said wild animals had encroached their territory.
He said some people were confined for days and that they lived in fear because of the animals.
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