KCS waters CKGR wild animals, cllr embittered
Baboki Kayawe | Friday November 18, 2016 15:05
The deaths, as explained by KCS, are a manifestation of prolonged dry-spells and also the rise in human-wildlife conflict.
The environmental non- governmental organisation, formed in recognition of the pressures on Botswana’s wildlife and the general environment, said upon realising the severity of the drought on wildlife, they proposed to assist government with funds to drill and equip some boreholes in protected areas like the CKGR.
KCS acting chief executive officer, Baboloki Autlwetse told Mmegi the boreholes will provide water to wildlife and Department of Wildlife and National Park staff camp officers within the protected area.
“This is a drought mitigation measure due to climate change,” he said.
However, this development has unsettled area councillor, Bashi Thite who said wild animals are being prioritised over residents.
Recently, government moved to provide services including portable water through the Gantsi District Council to residents of CKGR with immediate effect. The council was ordered to consider alternatives like positioning storage tanks in settlements and filled periodically or outsourcing provision of water. “Provision of water to wild animals while there is insufficient water for human consumption, is disheartening. It is not proper to prioritise wildlife over people,” he said in an interview.
He said following government’s commitment, the six settlements - Molapo, Mothomelo, Metsiamanong, Gugamma, Kikao and Gope, are supplied with 5,000 litres of water monthly, but that is far from enough.
“Our proposal was that government should maintain the existing boreholes like the one in Mothomelo. That way, water shortage for humans will be arrested,” said Thite.
Responding to what Thite labelled as wrong priorities, Autlwetse said while they appreciate the other needs, there are entities tasked with provision of water for human use. “The Department of Water Affairs and Water Utilities Corporation provides
water for human consumption, water for livestock is provided by the Department of Animal Production and water for wildlife by the Department of Wildlife,” he said.
He added that climate change, which results in the persistent drought that the country is currently facing, is not exceptional to wildlife, hence the need for water provision to wildlife in protected areas.
“Many of the surface pans have received less rainwater over the years and thus require to be complemented by underground water. With continuous and limited recharge from rainfall, the water levels drop in many of the boreholes and the casing ages, leading to collapse of the holes,” he said.
However, he could not reveal to Mmegi the budget for the exercise as “the cost of the drilling will be determined by the bids. So, we would not want to influence the bidders at this stage when they see your publication”.
He explained that they undertook to augment water supply for wild animals because their mandate is to drive conservation programmes that promote integrated management of biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources in Botswana.
Mitigating against drought situation is one of the programmes undertaken to promote biodiversity conservation, he said.
The CKGR drilling is part of a bigger project that is taking place in other protected areas in the country. The expected completion date of the water development for wildlife in protected areas project is September 2017.