Elephant victims press Govt for compensation

THE Doro !Nawas conservancy in the Kunene Region wants Government to compensate communities for losses caused by wild animals.

Doro !Nawas conservancy Chairperson Helmuth Doaseb said elephants in their conservancy were destroying people’s water points and other property. “They need to be compensated by Government,” Doaseb told members of the Parliamentary Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration, who visited three conservancies in Kunene last weekend.Last week, the Police reported that Vaepisa Musutua (31) was trampled by an elephant at Palmfontein near Erwee in Kunene region on November 17.Bob //Guibeb, the Co-ordinator of the Khoadi //Hoas conservancy, said the increasing number of elephants in the conservancy has led to conflict with people.It is against this background that the conservancy has allocated some of its money to the compensation of elephant victims.”You cannot compensate a dead person, but we give a small amount to the family for the funeral and other needs,” said //Guibeb.Another problem the conservancy raised with the committee was that of uncontrolled tourism.They said some tourists drive off-road and camp wherever they want in the conservancy.They also feel that community game guards should be given the power to arrest poachers on the spot.They say when a poacher is found, they have to report it to the Police and when the Police arrive after some hours, the person is already gone.//Guibeb said it would cut costs if game guards could arrest poachers on the spot and take them to the Police.On Saturday, it transpired that the Doro !Nawas conservancy, which has formed a joint venture with Wilderness Safaris’ Doro !Nawas Camp was not happy with the benefits they were getting from the camp.The Chairperson of the conservancy, Leonard Hoaeb, said the camp wants to give them a 10 per cent ‘bed levy’ on the income from accommodation, but they want a percentage of the income from the restaurant and bar as well.”There is no agreement yet.We are still busy with our lawyers,” said Hoaeb.At the moment, the conservancy is only getting income from trophy hunting through a contract they have with Nossob Hunting Safaris, which Hoaeb said gives them about N$150 000 a year.The Doro !Nawas conservancy, established in December 1999, consists of 23 farms.It has 1 500 members.The Chairman of the Parliamentary committee, Hage Geingob, said the visit to the region was to learn about the achievements and the challenges the conservancies were facing.”They need to be compensated by Government,” Doaseb told members of the Parliamentary Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration, who visited three conservancies in Kunene last weekend.Last week, the Police reported that Vaepisa Musutua (31) was trampled by an elephant at Palmfontein near Erwee in Kunene region on November 17. Bob //Guibeb, the Co-ordinator of the Khoadi //Hoas conservancy, said the increasing number of elephants in the conservancy has led to conflict with people.It is against this background that the conservancy has allocated some of its money to the compensation of elephant victims.”You cannot compensate a dead person, but we give a small amount to the family for the funeral and other needs,” said //Guibeb.Another problem the conservancy raised with the committee was that of uncontrolled tourism.They said some tourists drive off-road and camp wherever they want in the conservancy.They also feel that community game guards should be given the power to arrest poachers on the spot.They say when a poacher is found, they have to report it to the Police and when the Police arrive after some hours, the person is already gone.//Guibeb said it would cut costs if game guards could arrest poachers on the spot and take them to the Police.On Saturday, it transpired that the Doro !Nawas conservancy, which has formed a joint venture with Wilderness Safaris’ Doro !Nawas Camp was not happy with the benefits they were getting from the camp.The Chairperson of the conservancy, Leonard Hoaeb, said the camp wants to give them a 10 per cent ‘bed levy’ on the income from accommodation, but they want a percentage of the income from the restaurant and bar as well.”There is no agreement yet.We are still busy with our lawyers,” said Hoaeb.At the moment, the conservancy is only getting income from trophy hunting through a contract they have with Nossob Hunting Safaris, which Hoaeb said gives them about N$150 000 a year.The Doro !Nawas conservancy, established in December 1999, consists of 23 farms.It has 1 500 members.The Chairman of the Parliamentary committee, Hage Geingob, said the visit to the region was to learn about the achievements and the challenges the conservancies were facing.