GABORONE, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) — In an effort to transport the community and school-aged children in its elephant-rich northwest area, Botswana has launched an elephant express bus.
During the bus handover ceremony in Seronga village, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting the safety of its people, particularly children, who are at risk due to wildlife movement in the area.
“The introduction of the buses is a welcome development that ensures the safety of the pupils and improves access to education, which is crucial for the country’s development,” stated Masisi.
This bus is the third in the area, following two minibuses that have been operating for the past two years. The private sector is leading the initiative in partnership with the local community and civic society. The president congratulated and thanked sponsors of the bus, noting that the government cannot do it alone.
Seronga village, located 1,232 km from Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, in the country’s northwest area, has a high population of wildlife.
Botswana currently has approximately 131,909 elephants, accounting for 58 percent of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), which is one of the world’s leading nature and landscape conservation areas. It covers the international boundaries of five Southern African countries including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
However, despite the significance of wildlife to Botswana’s economic tourism sector, elephants in the Okavango region pose a threat to both human lives and livelihoods.
Masisi emphasized that the government has implemented policies to address the issue of human-wildlife conflict, including Wildlife Department patrols and barrier fencing to prevent wildlife movement in affected regions. He also revealed that Botswana plans to provide Angola with 8,000 elephants to alleviate the pressure on Botswana.
