Environment and Tourism Ministry officials put down an injured elephant

Officials of the Environment and Tourism Ministry put-down another elephant in the Musese Constituency of the Kavango West Region today. The elephant was injured in a road accident where three police officers sustained serious injuries. According to Kavango West Police Commander, Olavi Auanga the vehicle was traveling from Rundu to Nkurenkuru on Friday evening when the accident occurred. Commissioner Auanga says the driver of the Nampol sedan only noticed the elephant crossing the road at a close range. Game wardens hunted the big mammal this morning and put it down after it became aggressive and dangerous to the public. Musese Constituency Councillor Sakeus Kudumo said consultations aimed at establishing a conservancy in his constituency were at an advanced stage. Kudumo led a delegation this year to four conservancies in the Zambezi Region to learn how they managed human wildlife conflict through conservancies. He says people there benefit a lot from the conservation of elephants saying they are an economic resource that should be protected. The Councillor noted that members of a conservancy could benefit from trophy hunting concessions, which are only awarded to gazetted conservancies. Employment and wealth creation by establishing lodges and other tourism businesses are some of the benefits. Five problem elephants have so far been put-down in the region as human wildlife conflict escalates.

Author
Chris Kupulo