Coexisting with large carnivores is challenging, and requires a combination of clear and tangible benefits, and the tolerance of any coexistence costs. The main goal of the Re mmôgô project is to empower farmers with solutions, and the team will achieve this by working alongside farmers to increase their uptake of human-wildlife conflict prevention tools, and providing a point of contact and helping hand in potential conflict situations.
The project is run on the ground by Tshepo Ditlhabang, Community Coexistence Officer (CCO) at Botswana Predator Conservation. Along with his assistant, Tshepo’s role involves make frequent, regular visits to cattle posts in the region to listen and talk to farmers about the interactions with carnivores. The team also hands out business cards, and respond to free call-me-back messages from farmers requesting assistance in managing conflicts.
Importantly, Tshepo and the team will provide farmers with access to non-lethal management tools and assistance.
The CCO and Assistant CCO also attend as many kgotla (community) meetings as possible, and will soon (post-covid) establish a film night to showcase wildlife documentaries that will allow members of the community to learn about and experience the wildlife they coexist with in a non-threatening manner.
The Re mmôgô project is hosted by Botswana Predator Conservation and funded by Natural Selection Conservation Trust (2019-2021) and Taronga Conservation Society Australia (2018-2022).
Carnivore research and coexistence 