Botswana's wild dogs

Northern Botswana supports approximately 700-800 wild dogs, one of only four populations containing more than an estimated 250-300 dogs in the whole of Africa. Botswana is unusual among African countries by virtue of its extremely low human population density and the consequent underlying development of natural areas. The Okavango Delta and surrounding areas support healthy populations of all the African large carnivores and the wild dog population of northern Botswana, the focus of the Botswana's Wild Dog population, is the largest remaining unprotected African wild dog population on the continent.

Although Botswana's population currently appears to be a robust one with a wide distribution, its survival into the next century is by no means assured. The greatest threats to Botswana's wild dog population are the loss of habitat to the growing human and cattle populations and the associated competition for limited resources such as land and water. Since the European Union (EU) began subsidising Botswana's beef industry in the 1970s, the erection of fences to separate wildlife and domestic stock, development of artificial water points and changing land uses have severely impacted the country's wildlife populations. As land and water continue to become scarce people and wildlife continue to be brought closer together and the frequency of human conflict with wild dogs is guaranteed to increase. Under the Fauna Conservation Act, wild dogs may not be shot without a license. However, such permits are not required if a farmer is defending livestock. Thus, wild dogs receive only partial legal protection, and in practice, wild dogs straying onto farms are shot on sight.

Over the past 30 years Botswana has designated 17 percent of its land to wildlife management and protection. This is divided between National Parks, Wildlife Management Area (WMAs) and Controlled Hunting Areas (CHAs). It seems clear that Botswana's government has consistently demonstrated legislative commitment to the long term management of its wildlife. Millions have been spent to create grassroots, community based conservation programs, with some areas within the Okavango region being put under the management and control of local communities. The fundamental idea is that earnings derived from wildlife utilisation returned directly to the local communities instead of the central government will increase the incentive of the local people to invest in long-term conservation. Some community based management programs have met success elsewhere but these need to be undertaken with care and with an in-depth knowledge of the local circumstances. Programs such as these also need to be closely monitored since research results from efforts of this sort around the world show a remarkably high incidence of degeneration through time. However, co-management between communities and central government may be the best possible solution for a positive, encouraging and sustainable future for the African wild dog and wildlife in Botswana.