Aerial Survey Presentation held in Maun

Written By: admin on June 25, 2011 No Comment

Friday, June 17th, Elephants Without Borders was proud to give a presentation on “The Current Status of Elephants and Wildlife in Northern Botswana: Results of a Dry Season Aerial Survey” to guests that were invited by The Honourable Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, hosted by the Botswana Tourism Organization at the new Maun Lodge conference facility. Esteem guests included Permanent Secretary S. Rathedi, Deputy Permanent Secretary E. Moabi, Coordinator of Research D. Malepa, acting Director of the Dept. of Wildlife & Tourism N. Nagafela, BTO CEO Myra Sekgororoane, other DWNP officials, the Kgosis (Chief’s) of Chobe, Ngamiland and the Okavango, and other key stakeholders, researchers and media. This event was to be the first presentation given in a line of others, as EWB disseminates the survey and analysis results publicly in order to provide vital information on trends of wildlife populations and the issues which have influenced their trends both negatively and positively. (Learn more about the importance of aerial surveys at http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/surveys.php)

The welcoming remarks were given by Mr. Edmont Moabi, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife & Tourism, followed by Dr. Mike Chase’s presentation. Following the presentation, DWNP Chief Wildlife Officer Cyril Taolo and Act. Director of DWNP Nelson Nagefelo spoke on the importance of EWB’s thorough and comprehensive survey results and the need to continue with further, focused and intensive research. The audience was given the opportunity to express their thoughts, questions, add comment and concerns regarding the survey results. The Honourable Minister of Environment & Tourism Kitso Mokaila closed the evening with congratulating Dr. Chase and EWB on their seminal work, admitting that Botswana has a problem with the decline of particular species in key areas, however, he vowed to support positive conservation efforts in halting and reversing any further negative declines.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Minister Mokaila, the Minsitry of Environment, Wildlife & Tourism, Myra Sekgororoane and the Botswana Tourism Organization for extending their keen interest and support to EWB by hosting the evening event!

To read further articles and papers on Elephants Without Border’s conservation projects and research, log on to EWB’s downloads page at http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/downloads.php EWB will soon be posting articles and feedback on the survey results, as well as an easy to download, comprehensible version of the final 2010 aerial survey results on the status of elephants and wildlife in northern Botswana. Sign up for our newsletters to receive regular postings and notifications: http://elephantswithoutborders.org/phplist/?p=subscribe

Help support Elephants Without Borders online at http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/donate.php

All photos below were kindly provided by the Dept. of Wildlife & National Parks (thank you!) Click on photo to view each fully: