MET installs predator proof kraals

KHORIXAS, 29 APR  – In line with the management of human-wildlife conflict, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) on Friday inaugurated three livestock predator-proof kraals and an Early Warning System in Bergsig in the Khorixas Constituency of the Kunene Region.
The initiative is a responsive measure to the increasing incidence of human-wildlife conflict in the area, where farmers have lost livestock due to lion attacks.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony here, Minister Pohamba Shifeta said the issue of impact by wildlife is a difficult challenge the ministry is faced with, as human and wildlife should both have a place to live.
Shifeta emphasised that the kraals are constructed in a way that lions cannot enter and kill livestock at night so that this can enable community members in the surrounding areas to ensure the safety of their livestock.
The early warning system meanwhile, allows the MET’s lion rangers to collar wild animals and monitor their movements through satellite tracking.
“The system will provide information to communities on elephant and lion movements when approaching their crop fields or livestock, this will enable farmers and the members to take appropriate measures to prevent damage to crops or livestock losses,” Shifeta said.
He noted that the ministry adopted the Human Lion Conflict Management Plan to guide responses in the Kunene and Erongo regions.
He further assured that the ministry plans to construct 20 more kraals in other affected areas of the Kunene Region this year.
The three inaugurated kraals were constructed at a cost of N.dollars 100 000.
At same event, Director of Wildlife and National Parks Management in the MET, Colgar Sikopo said in 2017, over 1 000 livestock was lost across the regions through wildlife related incidents, adding that the ministry is currently discussing measures on how to compensate those who lost their livestock.
“There is no policy that offers compensation on human wildlife loss, however, some losses were huge. What is being discussed is to see if we can at least buy farmers and community members some livestock back,” he said.

NAMPA