In Botswana’s Boteti region, where rural livelihoods coexist with the sprawling wilderness of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, human-wildlife conflict remains a pressing issue. Recognizing this, Chobe Holdings Limited (CHL) has stepped up its conservation efforts by partnering with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WILDCRU) to monitor and maintain the park’s electric perimeter fence.
CHL’s contribution, part of its P2.1 million investments in research and conservation for the 2024/25 financial year, is helping reduce the frequency and severity of wildlife encroaching onto community lands—a recurring problem that often ends in the loss of livestock or the retaliatory killing of predators.
Between January 2024 and February 2025, WILDCRU recorded 38 incidents of conflict resulting in the death of 72 livestock animals. Most of these incidents occurred in areas without a functioning fence, notably the southern parts of Kumaga village. This stark data underlines the vital role of a well-maintained barrier in mitigating conflict.
CHL’s support allows WILDCRU to carry out crucial fence maintenance activities, including fixing broken wires, ensuring electric currents are active, closing animal-created openings, and removing animal carcasses caught in the fence. In addition, WILDCRU is using its platform to educate local farmers on wildlife behavior and response strategies.
One of the more notable interventions during the reporting period was a coordinated drive to guide 40 zebras back into the park. Working alongside the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), WILDCRU constructed a large boma—a type of temporary enclosure—to facilitate the safe return of the animals, which had strayed onto farmlands.
Beyond fencing, CHL has funded a lion collaring project, enabling researchers to track at least four lions within the Makgadikgadi ecosystem. By studying the movements and behavioral patterns of these predators, scientists hope to design better strategies for reducing human-wildlife interactions in the future.
Conservation education is also a key component of CHL’s environmental strategy. Through a partnership with Rajala Peo, a nonprofit focused on environmental education, CHL is funding Junior Rangers and Aflatoun clubs in schools like Sedie, Tsodilo, Mathiba, and Letsholathebe. These clubs teach students about biodiversity, sustainability, and responsible stewardship of natural resources.
Children involved in these programs participate in projects ranging from gardening to recycling and host awareness events like the 4th Environmental Awareness Conference, which attracted over 500 participants, including 200 parents. Some clubs have even turned waste into marketable products, teaching students how to generate income through environmental responsibility.
CHL’s approach to conservation is not limited to protecting wildlife; it extends to ensuring communities living alongside parks have the tools and knowledge to coexist with nature. By blending scientific intervention with community education and direct investment, the company is contributing to the long-term sustainability of Botswana’s ecosystems.
