Growing human-wildlife conflict along Kavango River sparks concern

Historian and lecturer for social science education at the University of Namibia Shampapi Shiremo has questioned whether government conservation policies for crocodile and hippo populations are taking into account the safety of communities living alongside the Kavango River.

Shiremo was reacting to a recent report by Namibian Sun on how the Kavango River, which serves as a vital water source for communities living alongside it, is increasingly becoming a hotspot for dangerous encounters between humans and wildlife.

The article highlighted a rise in crocodile and hippo attacks, that has led to an increase in fatalities and injuries among residents who depend on the river.

“Are government conservation policies for the Kavango River working? If they are working, then how are these policies benefitting the ordinary inhabitants along the Kavango River? Is it good to conserve river wildlife, namely hippos and crocodiles?" he asked last week.

Perceptions worrying

He said as crocodile and hippo populations increase, more losses of human lives and damage to properties along the Kavango River should be expected.

“If not properly managed, this will in the future lead to unintended political and legal consequences. The argument most often heard being murmured when a crocodile or hippo attacks a human being is that the government cares less about the lives of human beings than the lives of wild animals.”

He said while these views are “probably not correct," it is important to consider “how human-wildlife conflict situations are managed by responsible government officials leads to these increasing negative perceptions. It is very clear that by allowing an increase in the hippo and crocodile populations in the Kavango River, the government intends to increase its state coffers through tourism activities."

Find solutions

Shiremo highlighted that as long as villagers do not derive direct benefits from river wildlife and only see it as a threat to their lives and properties, there will be little appreciation for conservation efforts by government.

“As a way forward, the government must therefore rethink its policies regarding wildlife conservation for the Kavango River."

He suggested that one solution is to "allow the establishment of community conservation areas on the Kavango River. This means the river will have to be rezoned into conservation areas, and community members in those villages will be trained in conservation matters, actively monitor the river wildlife and provide scientific or informed reports on hippos and crocodiles."

He said in addition, income derived from trophy hunting and harvesting of hippos to supply meat to conservancy community members will consolidate government conservation efforts on the river.

Alarming destruction

He further noted that the worst period for wildlife conservation in the Kavango River was during the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002), when the killing of hippos and rocodiles "was rampant."

“However, for the first time, from 2002 onwards, with the end of the civil war and the silencing of the guns in Angola, conservation laws were jointly applied to the Kavango River by both Namibia and Angola. The dividend of these policies and laws is the rejuvenation and alarming increase of the hippo and crocodile populations in the Kavango River,” he said.

As a result, he argued that the "current hippo and crocodile population in the Kavango River between Katwitwi and Muhembo is unprecedented in any living Mukavango’s lifetime today. This is a concern because the human lives and property of the people inhabiting the banks of the river are being lost at a rate never witnessed before."

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