Cheetah Conservation shows ropes to conservancy farmers

By: *STAFF REPORTER

THE survival of species such as cheetahs, lions, wild dogs and elephants in Africa is largely threatened by the conflict between farmers and animals that cause livestock losses and crop damage.

Still, says the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), many Namibian

farmers are willing to adapt their farming practices to accommodate

the existence of predators on farmland.

About 140 communal conservancy farmers, along with

representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and

various NGOs, were recently educated in integrated livestock and

wildlife management during three one-week courses held at the CCF's

Research and Education Centre near Otjiwarongo.

 

The courses aimed to promote understanding of the economic and

ecological value of integrated livestock and wildlife management,

and reducing conflict with wildlife through better understanding of

wildlife behaviour and rangeland ecology.

 

Participants came from conservancies in the north, northwest,

the eastern communal areas, Kavango and Caprivi.

 

They were also given information on livestock husbandry and

management to reduce losses to disease, poisonous plants, birthing

problems and predation.

 

A desire to protect and integrate predators into their farming

and conservancy areas was discussed and participants were taught

how to correctly identify causes of livestock losses due to

predators, including the use of livestock-guarding dogs.

 

Other topics on the programme included basic administration and

wildlife management, small-business management and the importance

of member participation.

 

CCF's 'Integrated Livestock and Predator Management: A Farmer's

Guide' was used as a basis for these continuing workshops.

 

Course events include team-building activities, lectures on

veterinary care, predator importance and identification, management

techniques and more.

 

Practical field activities were also held, where participants

investigated mock kill sites to determine which predator killed

livestock.

 

"Courses like these provide practical, hands-on skills in

agriculture and conservation management, both of which support

Namibia's economy," said the course co-ordinator, CCF's Bonnie

Schumann.

 

Others who shared their expertise included Dr Arthur

Bagot-Smith, Colin Nott, Selma Nangulah, Johan Britz, Karin le

Roux, Laly Lichtenfeld, Andrew Stein, Robin Lyons, Michael Mumbalu,

Josephine Henghali, Gebhardt Nikanor and Engelhardt Awaseb.

 

The course was sponsored by CCF, the Smithsonian Institution,

Namibia Wilderness Safaris and the Ministry of Environment and

Tourism.

 

Approximately 75 per cent of Namibia's wildlife and 95 per cent

of the country's cheetah share farmland with farmers.

 

The survival of many Namibian wildlife species therefore lies in

the hands of farmers.

 

About 140 communal conservancy farmers, along with representatives

of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and various NGOs, were

recently educated in integrated livestock and wildlife management

during three one-week courses held at the CCF's Research and

Education Centre near Otjiwarongo.The courses aimed to promote

understanding of the economic and ecological value of integrated

livestock and wildlife management, and reducing conflict with

wildlife through better understanding of wildlife behaviour and

rangeland ecology.Participants came from conservancies in the

north, northwest, the eastern communal areas, Kavango and

Caprivi.They were also given information on livestock husbandry and

management to reduce losses to disease, poisonous plants, birthing

problems and predation.A desire to protect and integrate predators

into their farming and conservancy areas was discussed and

participants were taught how to correctly identify causes of

livestock losses due to predators, including the use of

livestock-guarding dogs.Other topics on the programme included

basic administration and wildlife management, small-business

management and the importance of member participation.CCF's

'Integrated Livestock and Predator Management: A Farmer's Guide'

was used as a basis for these continuing workshops.Course events

include team-building activities, lectures on veterinary care,

predator importance and identification, management techniques and

more.Practical field activities were also held, where participants

investigated mock kill sites to determine which predator killed

livestock."Courses like these provide practical, hands-on skills in

agriculture and conservation management, both of which support

Namibia's economy," said the course co-ordinator, CCF's Bonnie

Schumann.Others who shared their expertise included Dr Arthur

Bagot-Smith, Colin Nott, Selma Nangulah, Johan Britz, Karin le

Roux, Laly Lichtenfeld, Andrew Stein, Robin Lyons, Michael Mumbalu,

Josephine Henghali, Gebhardt Nikanor and Engelhardt Awaseb.The

course was sponsored by CCF, the Smithsonian Institution, Namibia

Wilderness Safaris and the Ministry of Environment and

Tourism.Approximately 75 per cent of Namibia's wildlife and 95 per

cent of the country's cheetah share farmland with farmers.The

survival of many Namibian wildlife species therefore lies in the

hands of farmers.

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