Whose Elephants? Conserving, Compensating, and Competing in Northern Botswana

Abstract

While conservationists and politicians applaud the recent growth of Botswana's elephant population, farmers and residents of northern Botswana struggle to live with elephants who destroy crops and threaten livelihoods. The state's response has been to implement a narrowly applied compensation policy that reinforces government control over wildlife while communities affected by so-called human–elephant conflict demand increased rights to deal with the problem themselves. In this way, elephants represent contested ground between the state and local communities that can only be fully understood by considering the experiences and views of those who live with them as well as the national policy context in which management decisions are made. This article focuses on the hidden costs of attempting to live with elephants, framing this struggle as contestation over ownership of elephants in a political context that is increasingly focused on generating tourism revenues and expanding conservation territories.

Keywords:

• Botswana
• conservation
• elephants
• human–wildlife conflict
• rural livelihoods

Notes

Note. All tables with compensation data aggregated from DWNP Problem Animal Control log books kept in Seronga office. Data collected July 2007. Month-by-month data for 1999–2002 not available.

Note. n/a, Not available (missing) in data examined in early July 2007 in Seronga.

*Based on annual aggregate data, it appears likely that there were eight incidents in January, but because this individual monthly report was unavailable, we have not included it in this chart.

**Data from 6 July 2007–June 2009 collected in Seronga in July of 2009, but only monthly aggregates were available. Consequently, the previous analysis of average time required to resolve a claim focuses on this time frame, because the detailed claim information for late July 2007–June 2009 was unavailable.

***Data from July 2009 onward not available because second round of fieldwork was conducted in July 2009.

Public consultations (Bendsen 2005a; 2005b) reflect this, as have personal communications with panhandle residents during fieldwork over the last 4 years and discussions in a European Union (EU)-funded CROSCOG (Cross-Sectoral Commons Governance in Southern Africa) workshop conducted by DeMotts with board members of the Okavango Community Trust, Seronga, 2 July 2008.

Also, discussion with Okavango Community Trust (OCT) board members, CROSCOG workshop, Seronga, 2 July 2008.

All data referring to claims come from our analysis of DWNP Problem Animal Logbooks, 1999–2009.

While our data are not able to support this assertion because of lack of gender specificity, this concern was articulated by several prominent conservationists in Botswana as well as acknowledged by several DWNP officials. It is also borne out in other research (for example, Ogra 2008) that women often bear a heavier burden in dealing with HEC as well as in accessing compensation. We make this point because it merits further research and is a subject of concern.

Address by His Excellency, Mr. Festus G. Mogae, President of the Republic of Botswana, at the University of Botswana graduation, 4 September 2007, Gaborone.

Ntuane, Mmegi/The Reporter, Gaborone, 24 September 2007.

Comment made by female resident of Seronga during interview.