Farmers warned to keep cattle out of Etosha The deputy inspector-general for operations of the Namibian Police, Major-General James Tjivikua, has warned people living adjacent to the Etosha National Park that it is illegal to graze cattle in national parks.According to him there have been reports from Onanke, an area that borders the Etosha National Park, that some people are intentionally damaging the park fence to let their animals graze in the park.
He said farmers are cutting the fence and collapsing it by driving their vehicles over it. That is compounded by uncontrolled movements of people and livestock into and out of the park.
Tjivikua said it appeared that environmental awareness campaigns were having no effect. He asked local communities to do their part in protecting natural resources in Etosha and provide tips to law-enforcement agencies.
Environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta last year issued a strict warning that no grazing of livestock is allowed in the Etosha National Park and that game guards are allowed to kill animals that trespass in the park.
He said drought conditions had prompted communities to cut park fences so that their livestock can graze there, leaving the country''s flagship park vulnerable to poachers.
Shifeta issued the warning in light of last year''s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and said it is very important that livestock do not graze in the park alongside wildlife.
“This control measure is also important for wildlife management, tourism, general conservation and the development of the flagship Etosha National Park,” he
said.
ELLANIE SMIT