African Wildlife & Environment Issue 84 2023

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

But we are fighting to protect this area for wild animals. The matter is now before our traditional leaders in the sub-khutas (tribal courts). We will not give up struggling for our wildlife.” These people are justly proud of their corridor: it is of national and international importance for the protection of biodiversity, I am told. As long as it can be kept free of human habitation and farming, it enables movements of key wildlife species between Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Zambia and ensures transboundary connectivity – a key objective of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, the largest multi nation conservation area in the world – as big as France. More than 100, 000 elephant use the KAZA TFCA landscape. The conservancy started with only four game rangers, two of whom are still active in the Sobbe conservancy today. Their extensive experience accumulated over the years and broad knowledge of the area is a valuable resource for today's game guard team, of whom six are women. Like many other community conservation leaders I met in Zambezi region, Sobbe’s chair and staff are concerned about keeping the support of their members which they say is at a low ebb at present. “We suffered during the pandemic lockdowns – there was much less income and people who worked in tourism lost their jobs. One job supports many people. The cost of everything in the shops has risen and keeps rising. People are relying even more on their crops and their small numbers of livestock now so conflict with wildlife - which is increasing - is always a big issue.” Sobbe staff work hard to achieve coexistence between their community and wildlife. “There are regular talks and trainings to raise awareness about the corridor and to teach people more about their wildlife. Today, they no longer tremble with fear when they see a wild animal, but can read their tracks, recognise their behaviour and identify different species. We are proud that our work will mean that generations to come will learn about and appreciate our wildlife” Sobbe’s manager, Situbanga Allen Msundano, says. “Additionally, people have been empowered to protect themselves and their fields from elephants

and other dangerous game with chilli bombs, drums and torches.” Chilli bombs, containing chilli and oil, are lit to produce an acrid smoke which sometimes deters elephants from entering fields, depending on wind direction. Electric fences were proven of little long-term use decades ago in other areas in Zambezi. Elephants quickly learned how to short the electrical current - with their tusks, or by pushing a tree – or in one case, another elephant - onto the fence. Hunting income has improved the quality of life of hundreds of Sobbe residents. Before the pandemic lockdowns, the conservancy bought three electrical transformers to provide electricity at remote villages. Three villages were connected on a single line in the first of this three-phase development, which then stalled for two years over the pandemic period. Other villages will follow as money becomes available, with three more transformers already bought. All that remains to be done is to buy and install wiring and cables – planned to happen in the next few months. This means that hundreds more people will have electricity for the first times in their lives. With this most basic need met, people are able to use their initiative to improve their own lives. For example, after the first transformer was installed in Mashivi village before the pandemic, a young entrepreneur bought a refrigerator so that he could buy fish wholesale from the nearest river 40km away and sell Tilapia and Bream in his village. Also part of the conservancy work plan for the next six months is to extend water through pipes and taps to a number of villages from boreholes that have already been drilled from hunting income. These projects, plus the predator-proof kraals, are all part of Sobbe’s battle to keep its members on the side of wildlife. Take away this income and Sobbe Conservancy’s wildlife corridor - and the path thousands of elephants have been using for hundreds of years - will be transformed into fields of crops. Elephants and other wildlife will be harassed, shot and blocked from going where they need to go.

39 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 84 (2023)