Education for Predator Conservation

Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB) is a long term, multi-disciplinary conservation project incorporating scientific research, community outreach and education. The Wilderness Trust is sponsoring the education programme component of this important project.

Background:
The cheetah is Africa's most endangered large cat, with approximately only 10 000 left in the wild. The species is now threatened with extinction due to loss of habitat and prey, and human persecution through farming conflict and illegal trade. Moreover, populations are not safe within protected areas as these cats are often outcompeted by stronger predators.

The Project Details:
The primary objectives of the project are to maintain - in co-existence with the local communities - viable populations of cheetah, as an integral part of the ecosystems of Botswana; to study the behaviours and habitat requirements of Botswana's cheetah; to promote methods of livestock management and predator control which facilitate coexistence with predators, encouraging communities and government to integrate such methods into their farm management policies; to conduct education programmes aimed at building awareness among farmers, educators, students and the general public of the plight of cheetah and their role in healthy ecosystems. Overall, the aim is to encourage rural communities to manage their wildlife resources sustainably.

The objectives will be met by school visits, resource distribution (predator education books, posters and DVDs) and two-day residential teacher training workshops at a relevant facility in the region.

Project Notes:
The primary aim of the community outreach component of this project is to investigate the population status and distribution of the predators on farmlands and the role of predator / livestock conflicts and methods of control utilised. This information helps in determining areas of high predator / livestock conflict and which methods communities are currently utilising, providing a vital insight into what actions need to be taken to facilitate coexistence. Site visits are made throughout Botswana to farms, cattle posts and villages. An interview survey is conducted at each site, detailing information on socio-economic factors, farm details, current management techniques, predator sightings, conflict incidences and community perceptions.

Information on effective farm/livestock management and non-lethal predator control is distributed to communities during all visits, workshops and via Farmers Associations and village networks. Workshops at relevant centres are scheduled monthly to bring farmers together to discuss techniques and methods. Training workshops are carried out for Problem Animal Control (PAC) officers of the Wildlife Department. As well as these larger workshops, a mobile workshop is taken into villages and outlying communities by community outreach officers. Teaching communities how to identify different predators and signs so that appropriate management methods can be implemented to decrease likelihood of conflict and facilitate coexistence.