Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC): Lesson to Learn from Botswana on Elephant Conserva...

Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC): Lesson to Learn from Botswana on Elephant Conserva...: Coming to term with the latest news from  “African Elephant Giant nation Botswana”; I appreciate that there has been stern confab in ide...

Lesson to Learn from Botswana on Elephant Conservation

Coming to term with the latest news from “African Elephant Giant nation Botswana”;I appreciate that there has been stern confab in identifying a coping mechanism on the increasing in elephant population across Southern African region;“I credit that decisions about wildlife management should be based on science rather than willful ignorance of it.”  In my humble view I feel like the decision to lift the hunting of elephants was not well moored by scientific or other forms of scientific evidence; in the entire world of conservation we have never seen or witness such decision solving the underlying said contests.

The rationale behind lifting hunting include:  “The number and high levels of human-elephant conflict and the consequent impact on livelihoods was increasing; Predators appear to have increased and were causing a lot of damage as they kill livestock in large numbersamong others 

I have been globally put to analysis this decision and this is what I feel; 

·      The government of Botswana would have consulted the African Elephant Range state; In Africa we have about 37 countries hosting at least 1,000 elephants and above and they play a central role in elephant conservation, lifting the ban on hunting will affect the continental elephant population not a single country or a region. 

·      Its time for African Elephant range states establish and enhance the “Regional integrated trans boundary approach”, elephants are known as long distance species and move from one country to another country. This validates why this trans boundary approach is very important and will discourage a decision from a single country. Invariably, they will offer space for these species as well as sharing synergy in tackling conservation challenges. 

·      If a population or any species seems increasing and may cause unprecedented challenges i.e. ecological or human conflict; a country or a region should consider translocations to the countries that have lost their elephants if only the said country (s) have collected the cause of species disappearance.  Some countries have lost their elephants are now ready to can accommodate more elephants such countries includes Malawi, Uganda and Ethiopia among others. 

I feel like Botswana Government is playing a devil advocate rule here!  African leaders and policy makers have demonstrated conservation ignorance and need to be kindled up by a thrust! I have traversed in most of African countries and I can attest that our leaders have ignored science and instead have embraced unplanned infrastructural development targeting the protected areas. These developments are cash cows for most of these leaders for self-gain; and have stemmed in expansion of wildlife conflict between humans exasperating the negative attitudes from communities towards wildlife conservation. 

By Jim Justus Nyamu- Elephant Conservations and cruder 

Kenya's Elephant Man On Why Elephants Matter

Kenya's Elephant Man On Why Elephants Matter

Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC): Why Conserve African & Asian Elephants

Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC): Why Conserve African & Asian Elephants: Why it’s important to conserve African and Asian Elephants African and Asian Elephants population has drastically reduced due to the fo...

Why Conserve African & Asian Elephants

Why it’s important to conserve African and Asian Elephants

African and Asian Elephants population has drastically reduced due to the following challenges, 80% of them are caused by human being; Habitat loss and Fragmentation, Capture of wild elephants, Conflict with communities, Illegal hunting and trade, Genetic threats and Diseases.

Asian elephants occur in isolated populations in 13 range States, with an approximate total range area of almost 880,000 square kilometers equivalent to only one-tenth of the historical range as defined by the IUCN. Surveys shows that 13 Asian elephant range States host between 39,500 and 43,500 wild Asian elephants. In addition, there are approximately 13,000 domesticated (working or former working) elephants in Asia.

My campaign this time is to create awareness on their predicaments and contest the key commands in assessing their commitments during the Conference of Parties 18 (CoP18) of the CITES in Sri- Lanka.  

Most of African and Asian elephants range states have presented their apprehensiveness to the upcoming CoP18 in bit to protect the two key species. The CITES works with governments to to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The survival of these two distinct species lies in the hands of government, communities and off course donors who comes to enhance the conservation efforts by bridging the financials gaps. Social studies show that most of the wildlife departments or agents in Africa despite being a government parastatals or departments lack government financial and political goodwill support. 

These wildlife agents have worked so hard in providing conservation /species strategies or policies i.e. Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, nevertheless these rich and thoughtful documents need to be implemented and the execution need personnel and funds. The end results to this end are poor wildlife conservation managements that have certified the underlying challenges in conservation.  Invariably all these issues have left communities or civilians in a state of catharsis and challenges such as illegal hunting and habitat loss that are decreasing both elephants and their habitats very fast.  “ Losing elephants means losing habitats and ecosystems that host clean water, clean air and support livelihoods”

I aim at having an audience for the first time at CoP18 of the CITES with a backing of both Asian and African elephants conservationist in May –June 2019. To achieve this and more I need your support from logistics, on the ground (Sri-Lanka), sharing of networks globally, and financial support.

Jim Justus Nyamu