33 people killed by wild animals since 2019

Government has spent N$24 million since 2019 to compensate the families of 33 people who were killed by wild animals and on other human-wildlife conflict compensation claims, official government statistics indicate.Fifteen people were killed during wild animal attacks in 2022 and two people so far this year.According to environment ministry spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, crocodiles, hippos and elephants were the main culprits responsible for the 33 lives lost.He said that the ministry has since 2019 paid offset amounts to losses caused by wild animals amounting to more than N$24.1 million.About N$2.9 million was paid for livestock losses, N$2.5 million for crop damages, N$640 000 for injuries, and N$3.3 million for loss of life during that time.Within the same period, more than N$14.6 million was also paid to conservancies to offset human-wildlife conflict losses to their members.Benefits underminedIn terms of crop damage, 2 637 hectares was destroyed by wild animals, of which 270 hectares were destroyed in 2022 and 60 hectares this year, mainly be elephants.A total of 862 livestock were killed by predators, mainly crocodiles, hyenas, lions, wild dogs, leopards and jackals, of which 204 were killed in 2022 and 9 this year.Muyunda said that incidences of human-wildlife conflict remain a concern as they seem to overshadow the benefits and opportunities created for Namibians."These incidences mainly involve livestock losses, crop damages, loss of life, and injuries affecting the livelihoods of our people."He said that the overall principle behind the country’s conservation of natural resources is enshrined in the country’s constitution, which states that such resources are protected to benefit the country’s current and future generations.Muyunda said that this is the basis of their investment in trying to ensure that the cost of coexistence does not outweigh the benefits.Income generated through protectionHe said that one avenue to derive such benefits is through the community-based conservation programme that has created employment and income-generation opportunities.In 2021, through the conservancy programme a total of 3 548 jobs were created, comprising 998 community members employed in conservancies.Further, 774 full-time and 62 part-time employees were employed in joint-venture tourism enterprises, while 130 full-time and 188 part-time employees were employed in the conservation hunting sector, and the rest were employed in small and medium enterprises.Conservancies generated cash income and in-kind benefits to rural communities totalling N$91.7 million, benefitting over 238 701 community members.Of this, conservation hunting generated over N$25.9 million, with a meat value of N$9.2 million.Tourism generated more than N$53.8 million, while indigenous plants and other sources of income generated more than N$1.02 million and N$1.6 million, respectively.

33 people killed by wild animals since 2019

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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33 people killed by wild animals since 2019

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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