BON Hotel Swakopmund opens
February 2, 2016
Xaudum Lodge
February 15, 2016
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Text by Elzanne Erasmus
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“The best way to solve conflict is to understand the other party” – Dr. Rudie van Vuuren, The N/a’an ku sê Foundation
In an effort to support the conservation of Namibia’s free-roaming elephants in the Kamanjab area, three new GPS collars have been generously sponsored by Namibia Breweries Limited at the bequest of the N/a’an ku sê Foundation.
Thursday, 4 February 2016, saw this milestone event unfold at N/a’an ku sê Lodge, 30 minutes outside of Windhoek. The location lended itself perfectly to the event as the collars were handed over to the backdrop of dramatic rain clouds, with kudus and other wildlife prancing around in full view of the ceremony.
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Photo ©N/a’an ku sê Foundation
The Honourable Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Tommy Nambahu, as well as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Dr. Malan Lindeque, were in attendance. The Deputy Minister placed emphasis on the importance of different sectors of society working together to help find solutions and empower environmental management, and further congratulated Namibia Breweries Limited and the N/a’an ku sê Foundation for stepping up to the plate once again. Dr. Rudie van Vuuren, in his address delivered at the event, said:
“It is a good day for conservation when Namibians take charge of their own problems and find ways to approach it together.”
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Dr Rudie van Vuuren and Rosemary Shippiki, marketing manager for Namibia Breweries Limited. Photo ©Na’an ku sê Foundation
Deputy Minister Tommy Nambahu proudly displays one of the new collars. Photo ©N/a’an ku sê Foundation
Photo ©N/a’an ku sê Foundation
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has also sponsored a further three collars to be deployed.
The collars will serve to address the issue of human-elephant conflict in the areas around Kamanjab. The aim of the collars is to monitor the movement of the elephants through the region. Data obtained from this will then be shared amongst stakeholders (especially farmers).
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A collared elephant in Etosha National Park. Elephant cows, usually the matriarch of the group, are collared as they lead the herd. Photo ©Elzanne Erasmus
There are approximately 150 free-roaming elephants in the Kamanjab district and the monitoring of their movements will go a long way toward mitigating ongoing conflict between the animals and the inhabitants of the area.
Read more about successful collaring and wildlife management here.
For more information on The N/a’an ku sê Foundation and their conservation efforts visit their website www.naankuse.com.
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