Cheetah Conservation shows ropes to conservancy farmers

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.