Below is a copy of current news from the Ngami Times Botswana http://ngamitimes.com/ . It seems anthrax has broken out in Chobe and Savuti and is decimating the animals. I had warned Parks and Wildlife of this possible event and how to diagnose and prevent it. On many occasion while Park Veterinarian we had acute deaths of animals especially elephants With a simple blood smear I diagnosed at least 8 cases of Anthrax. The state laboratory was inefficient and untimely in thei...r diagnosis of blood samples sent to them often taking over 6 weeks for a response. A quick reaction of immediately burning carcasses before opened by predators was practiced and outbreaks were thus prevented
Unless a radical change has occurred since I was deported the lack of equipment, concern or action is very unlikely. As usual the authorities will do nothing until the situation is a total disaster and then it’s too late. Nature is now lashing back
This was evident in the Distemper outbreak 3 years ago where they would not listen to my advice and after 7 weeks passed the infection had been transferred to the wild predator population .That following winter most predators which would normally be seen at the water’s edge, as all game must come to the Chobe River to drink, were conspicuously absent. It took a year and a half before I heard a Hyena howl at night, new lions have moved in and are in a state of constant disruption as they are trying to establish their territories, the Painted Wildog pack of 28 animals living near my home disappeared and only 2 years later were they beginning to show up again. We cannot afford to have these losses anymore as these species are severely threatened and even one life saved can make a difference.
I won’t even mention the effects of poaching that was rampant at the time, and has increased tremendously since my departure.
I am in no way trying to elevate my position as these are common well documented conditions from many other parts of Africa. There is no one with knowledge or experience in Chobe to deal with these situations anymore. It really is quite incredible.
I cry for the animals of Chobe and once again berate the Government of Botswana for their lacidasical and typical non action in preserving their wildlife heritage. Unfortunately the public conception that Botswana is that they are foremost in their conservation efforts and a leader in management .This is not truthful and in fact a sham and disgrace that no one seems to understand or care to confirm. The government’s control of the media only allows good outcomes to be revealed and paint themselves as angels of mercy and concern and everyone eats it up.
I was park Veterinarian and Honourary Game warden for almost 5 years I had access to Park records and was in fact deported because I knew too much and saw too much. I have tried to make many conservation organizations aware of the situation since then, but I am just laughed at and ignored. I don’t have the political clout or the unlimited financial backing that is required to expose this sham. When the President made his brother the Minister of Tourism and Wildlife last month for me it was the last straw. He has no qualifications or knowledge whatsoever to be in that powerful position. In fact my commitment to wildlife conservation is quite evident in my past actions and I need not defend that. If one follows the politics of the country I don’t have to expose it as they are doing a wonderful job of making a fool of themselves and as always in the end the truth will be revealed. My only concern in the interim is that there is there will be animals left there to conserve.
I will in the near future reveal all the facts so that you can make up your own minds. I once more remind you that Chobe is home to half the population of elephants of the world and has been targeted for some time now. The rest of Africa is also under the siege of poaching syndicates. Please will someone open their eyes? I am just one man.
"Weakened elephants easy prey for poachers, lions "
By Lets Open
SAVUTI - Elephants in the Savuti marsh area are being hunted and killed by lions as anthrax takes hold in the Savuti and the Chobe National Park.
The elephant population has been depleted in the Chobe, researchers, conservationists and local safari guides said due to heat and shortage of water in some places during lengthy movement of elephants from one place to the next had been a contributing factor as well.
In addition, poachers are tracking sickly elephants and killing them for their ivory tusks. Six bodies of elephants were found in Shaile, Satau and near the old hunting area No 6 situated near Kachikau. Some of the bodies were found without tusks.
Poaching activities are reported with wildlife such as like rhino, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and plainsgame killed by poachers either from the Caprivi Strip of Namibia, Botswana or Zambia.
The poachers are technical to the extent that they sometimes load bundles of dried fish on top of elephant tusks as a way of concealing the tusks inside heavy man-made sacks. The poachers sell the tusks to dealers in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo for export to the Far East.
Anthrax-affected elephants in most cases come from Linyanti, Kwando and other areas of the park. Safari guides explained that elephants die while in search of water and palatable vegetation.
“They are dying like flies,' said guide Gologota Baboledi travelling in the Chobe last weekend with Italian and Spanish tourists.
Other sources say lion, jackal, hyena, caracal, other cats and crocodiles along river sources are also eating dead elephants which had died while drinking water.
There is a virulent smell all over it is common to see at least 4 to 5 lions lying under a tree dealing with their own elephant and another pair within a short range doing the same thing, said another guide. Although foreign tourists enjoy taking pictures of the horror issue, it remains the saddest ordeal for Chobe elephants in decades. It seems worse than ever before as anthrax didn't claim large numbers of elephants as currently. Due to unreliable rainfall, anthrax is common within some areas of the park but it is minimised by heavy rains. However, when it is absolutely dry like it is now, the situation is worse - particularly in Savuti and in the Mababe Depression. Independent researchers, veterinarians and conservationists say the heatwave had been devastating to wildlife in general.
Unless a radical change has occurred since I was deported the lack of equipment, concern or action is very unlikely. As usual the authorities will do nothing until the situation is a total disaster and then it’s too late. Nature is now lashing back
This was evident in the Distemper outbreak 3 years ago where they would not listen to my advice and after 7 weeks passed the infection had been transferred to the wild predator population .That following winter most predators which would normally be seen at the water’s edge, as all game must come to the Chobe River to drink, were conspicuously absent. It took a year and a half before I heard a Hyena howl at night, new lions have moved in and are in a state of constant disruption as they are trying to establish their territories, the Painted Wildog pack of 28 animals living near my home disappeared and only 2 years later were they beginning to show up again. We cannot afford to have these losses anymore as these species are severely threatened and even one life saved can make a difference.
I won’t even mention the effects of poaching that was rampant at the time, and has increased tremendously since my departure.
I am in no way trying to elevate my position as these are common well documented conditions from many other parts of Africa. There is no one with knowledge or experience in Chobe to deal with these situations anymore. It really is quite incredible.
I cry for the animals of Chobe and once again berate the Government of Botswana for their lacidasical and typical non action in preserving their wildlife heritage. Unfortunately the public conception that Botswana is that they are foremost in their conservation efforts and a leader in management .This is not truthful and in fact a sham and disgrace that no one seems to understand or care to confirm. The government’s control of the media only allows good outcomes to be revealed and paint themselves as angels of mercy and concern and everyone eats it up.
I was park Veterinarian and Honourary Game warden for almost 5 years I had access to Park records and was in fact deported because I knew too much and saw too much. I have tried to make many conservation organizations aware of the situation since then, but I am just laughed at and ignored. I don’t have the political clout or the unlimited financial backing that is required to expose this sham. When the President made his brother the Minister of Tourism and Wildlife last month for me it was the last straw. He has no qualifications or knowledge whatsoever to be in that powerful position. In fact my commitment to wildlife conservation is quite evident in my past actions and I need not defend that. If one follows the politics of the country I don’t have to expose it as they are doing a wonderful job of making a fool of themselves and as always in the end the truth will be revealed. My only concern in the interim is that there is there will be animals left there to conserve.
I will in the near future reveal all the facts so that you can make up your own minds. I once more remind you that Chobe is home to half the population of elephants of the world and has been targeted for some time now. The rest of Africa is also under the siege of poaching syndicates. Please will someone open their eyes? I am just one man.
"Weakened elephants easy prey for poachers, lions "
By Lets Open
SAVUTI - Elephants in the Savuti marsh area are being hunted and killed by lions as anthrax takes hold in the Savuti and the Chobe National Park.
The elephant population has been depleted in the Chobe, researchers, conservationists and local safari guides said due to heat and shortage of water in some places during lengthy movement of elephants from one place to the next had been a contributing factor as well.
In addition, poachers are tracking sickly elephants and killing them for their ivory tusks. Six bodies of elephants were found in Shaile, Satau and near the old hunting area No 6 situated near Kachikau. Some of the bodies were found without tusks.
Poaching activities are reported with wildlife such as like rhino, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and plainsgame killed by poachers either from the Caprivi Strip of Namibia, Botswana or Zambia.
The poachers are technical to the extent that they sometimes load bundles of dried fish on top of elephant tusks as a way of concealing the tusks inside heavy man-made sacks. The poachers sell the tusks to dealers in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo for export to the Far East.
Anthrax-affected elephants in most cases come from Linyanti, Kwando and other areas of the park. Safari guides explained that elephants die while in search of water and palatable vegetation.
“They are dying like flies,' said guide Gologota Baboledi travelling in the Chobe last weekend with Italian and Spanish tourists.
Other sources say lion, jackal, hyena, caracal, other cats and crocodiles along river sources are also eating dead elephants which had died while drinking water.
There is a virulent smell all over it is common to see at least 4 to 5 lions lying under a tree dealing with their own elephant and another pair within a short range doing the same thing, said another guide. Although foreign tourists enjoy taking pictures of the horror issue, it remains the saddest ordeal for Chobe elephants in decades. It seems worse than ever before as anthrax didn't claim large numbers of elephants as currently. Due to unreliable rainfall, anthrax is common within some areas of the park but it is minimised by heavy rains. However, when it is absolutely dry like it is now, the situation is worse - particularly in Savuti and in the Mababe Depression. Independent researchers, veterinarians and conservationists say the heatwave had been devastating to wildlife in general.
