Bio-diversity

The proposed project aims at promoting human/predator coexistence by fostering and developing more enlightened attitudes towards predators in young and the old alike with the goal of securing the long term survival of the cheetah within the rich biodiversity of Botswana. The objectives of the project are to maintain in coexistence with human populations a viable population of cheetahs with a strong gene pool as an integral part of the ecosystems of Botswana, understand behaviour and the habitat requirements of Botswana`s cheetah population, promote appropriate methods of livestock management, encourage their wider adoption and integration into farm management systems through promotion of non-lethal predator control methods and conduct educational awareness programmes for farmers, educators, students and the general public on the plight of cheetahs and their role in the health of the ecosystems. The project has a base at Mokolodi Nature Reserve with satellite research camps at Jwaneng Game Park and Ghanzi farms. The satellite locations were chosen due to high incidences of predator/livestock conflicts (involving cheetahs in particular) according to the Problem Animal Control records from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

Botswana