Officials bogged down in red tape, jumbos stay stuck in mud

OFFICIALS of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Caprivi have submitted a report on what should be done to help save elephants that are dying of thirst in the region.

Colgar Sikopo, the Chief Control Warden for the Ministry in Caprivi and Rundu, told The Namibian on Monday that they had submitted the report to the ministry’s headquarters in Windhoek on Friday. He said he could not reveal their findings and suggestions without permission from the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Malan Lindeque.The Namibian was unable to reach Lindeque for comment.The Director of Parks and Wildlife Management, Ben Beytell, is on leave and his Deputy, Sacky Namugongo, is out of the country.Since October, more than 20 elephants have died in the Caprivi as the region’s main rivers dry up.Sikopo said last week that the water level in the Chobe River and Lake Liambezi is so low that animals get stuck in the mud when they try to reach the water.He said four young elephants died at Muyako last week after they got bogged down in mud.Conservation officials managed to save one sub-adult, but decided to shoot two others to end their suffering.He said he could not reveal their findings and suggestions without permission from the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Malan Lindeque.The Namibian was unable to reach Lindeque for comment.The Director of Parks and Wildlife Management, Ben Beytell, is on leave and his Deputy, Sacky Namugongo, is out of the country.Since October, more than 20 elephants have died in the Caprivi as the region’s main rivers dry up.Sikopo said last week that the water level in the Chobe River and Lake Liambezi is so low that animals get stuck in the mud when they try to reach the water.He said four young elephants died at Muyako last week after they got bogged down in mud.Conservation officials managed to save one sub-adult, but decided to shoot two others to end their suffering.