Animals Are Our Wealth

It is regrettable to hear about the loss of lives along the borders of Botswana and Namibia.

You have to understand, however, that in Botswana poaching is a criminal offence and it carries a harsh penalty Our animals are our wealth our pride. Tourists come all the way just to view what other countries do not have, and pay huge money to boost our economy.
The Botswana Defence Force has been appointed to patrol our borders and are not killing machines. The police are not equipped to carry out border patrols and as such are no match for poachers who carry powerful rifles.
In several incidents poachers would shoot and kill rhinos, elephants, remove ivory, make shoes out of their hidesand put them on to cover human tracks. They know that what they are doing is illegal and would do anything to get what they want including shooting to kill.
A lot of wire snares would be found in the bush. Most of the time our animals get caught in such snares and end up as biltong. If such poachers are found they will try to run away and when overcome they would shoot and in that way forcing our patrol teams to shoot back, ending in loss of lives.
Nelson Bonang
By email

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