Wildlife kills hundreds of livestock in conservancies neighbouring Etosha

Over the past five years, from 2019 to 2024, a total of 388 livestock were caught and killed by wild animals in conservancies neighbouring the Etosha National Park.These livestock comprised mainly of cattle, horses, donkeys and goats, enviornmnet and tourism minister Indileni Daniel said in her response to questions raised in Parliament concerning the Etosha National Park Boundary Fence. She said that 61 hectares of crop fields were damaged during the same period. “Important to note is that much of the human-wildlife conflict incidents being experienced around Etosha National Park involve crop damages, predation on livestock and damage caused to water infrastructure. She however, said that these damages and predation are not necessarily just caused by animals from the Etosha National Park, as there are also resident wild animals in communal areas and farms adjacent to the park. According to Daniel the ministry has been working with communities and farmers around the Etosha National Park in putting preventative, protection and mitigation measures in place to manage human-wildlife conflict. She said that measures put in place include mainly the construction of elephant protection walls to protect water infrastructure for communities and farmers; provision of alternative waterpoints for wild animals; construction of predator-proof kraals to prevent livestock from being killed by predators; removing of problem causing animals; and collaring of wild animals for an early warning system. “We have also been conducting awareness programs with communities.”Daniel said that some communities have their cattle posts and crop fields too close to Etosha National Park. “Others even connect their fences to that of the Etosha National Park. This cannot be allowed as it attracts wild animals to get out of the park and attack livestock and graze in crop fields.”Daniel said that the ministry believes these measures have contributed significantly to the reduction of human wildlife conflict around Etosha National Park, and will continue to do so, and more still needs to be done, including by the communities and farmers themselves.

Wildlife kills hundreds of livestock in conservancies neighbouring Etosha

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Republikein 2025-06-17

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Wildlife kills hundreds of livestock in conservancies neighbouring Etosha

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