The severe drought in Botswana, following a dismal rainy season, has not only pushed hundreds of thousands of people to the brink of starvation but is also threatening the region's rich biodiversity as wildlife succumb to dehydration and lack of forage.
Recent updates reveal that the Chobe River is dwindling, posing a danger to animals such as hippos, which are becoming trapped due to receding water levels. Sections of the Okavango and Thamalakane Rivers are reported to be completely dry.
According to a report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for February, an unprecedented dry spell lasting over 30 days has affected extensive areas across Angola, Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These regions have experienced the lowest rainfall for late January/February in at least four decades. The ongoing El Nio phenomenon is expected to persist until April 2024.
Grace Muzila, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, has previously stated that numerous wild animals are perishing due to dehydration, starvation, and exhaustion after embarking on long journeys in search of sustenance and water. Muzila highlighted the distressing sight of animals becoming trapped in mud as they desperately seek water.
Hippos, which typically require extensive submersion in water to graze during the night, are facing challenges due to the drastically reduced water levels in rivers, some of which have dried up entirely. This has led to hippos clustering together, increasing the likelihood of them getting stuck.
Videos circulating on social media platforms depict waterholes, including the Mabua waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, devoid of water. Concerned individuals are urging swift action to address the critical water shortages affecting both humans and animals.
The ongoing drought and river depletion in Ngamiland are pushing various wildlife species, such as elephants, hippos, and crocodiles, to migrate in search of water, sometimes encroaching into human settlements and heightening the risk of human-wildlife conflicts (HWC). Although efforts by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) aim to mitigate these issues, communities express the need for further interventions.
The El Nio phenomenon, characterized by elevated temperatures and below-average rainfall from November to March, has also significantly impacted agriculture in Botswana and other southern African countries.
