© Environment News Service (ENS) 2000
November 2, 2000
By Brian Ligomeka

BLANTYRE, Malawi, November 2, 2000 (ENS) - Crocodiles dwelling in Malawian lakes and rivers have become a bone of contention between the government and indigenous people who live near these water bodies. Both the people and their livestock regularly fall victim to crocodiles, but the government insists that it is determined to protect the crocodiles.

Habitat and natural foods for the Nile crocodile have been reduced in the Shire River, an outlet of Malawi, Africa's third largest lake. These pressures have led to increasing numbers of crocodile attacks on cattle, goats and even humans, as well as destruction of fishing nets and other equipment vital to the prosperity of the local people.

Malawi has a government controlled crocodile harvest programme, with quotas established in 1948. A national harvest quota of 250 wild crocodiles is also in place, dictated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

But the actual harvest in Lower Shire has been considerably lower. In 1997, for example, government hunters killed 162 crocodiles in the Lower Shire.

Now, the Malawi Department of National Parks and Wildlife is moving toward advocating and supporting the sustainable harvest of crocodiles, with a portion of the profits directly benefiting local communities.

According to a 1998 report by a government hunter who harvested crocodiles from the Lower Shire, some parts of the river have such dense crocodile populations that he was able to shoot 15 to 25 crocodiles each night.

The hunter reported that when the stomachs of larger crocodiles were opened, remains of cattle, goats, dogs and other crocodiles were found.

The excessive use of wetland resources by people has reduced the availability of natural crocodile food such as wild mammals and fish, contributing to the increase of crocodile attacks on people and livestock.

Besides loss of life, fishers suffer considerable destruction of equipment, particularly nets, as a result of crocodile attacks.

Wildlife managers say there is a need to address people's negative attitudes towards crocodiles. Some feel that they should not be conserved.

"I don't think these animals are the type that we should conserve for the future generation," said Chief Ngabu of Chikwawa. "I don't think our children need to have such beasts around. After all, we do not benefit anything from these beasts."

While significant numbers of crocodiles are culled from the Lower Shire each year, communities currently enjoy no benefits from such activities. The plan will explore and implement better ways of involving communities in crocodile management, including the application of indigenous knowledge.

The joint plan also intends to ensure that profits accruing from crocodile harvests are shared with communities in return for their participation in crocodile management.

Such a plan carries risks as well, such as promoting trade in crocodile skins and other products. At this year's meeting of CITES parties, the Nile crocodile was among the species recommended for additional protection from international trade.

But current efforts towards crocodile population control are being hampered largely by inadequate information on crocodile numbers. Where efforts have been made to generate adequate population figures, it is still difficult to ascertain the trends in crocodile numbers because different methodologies have been used in counting them.

The Zambezi Basin Wetlands Conservation and Resource Utilization Project (ZBWCRUP), a World Conservation Union (IUCN) project supported by the Canadian International Development Agency, is attempting to address some of the issues relating to crocodile management in Lower Shire.

A formal crocodile management plan is being drawn up to the two agencies for presentation to local communities for their consideration and input.

To reduce crocodile attacks on people, the ZBWCRUP has embarked on a public awareness campaign through meetings, drama, radio and other communication methods. It has promoted the use of larger boats, which are not susceptible to crocodile attacks.

Support has also been given to removing aquatic weeds that provide hiding areas for crocodiles.

To ensure that crocodile populations are maintained at sustainable levels, managers must safeguard crocodile habitats by identifying specific areas needed for various stages of the crocodile life cycle. Both nesting areas on land and water habitats of crocodiles have been reduced by agriculture and fishing.

Various issues have yet to be addressed, including crocodile population monitoring, human-crocodile interactions, habitat management and community participation.

The ZBWCRUP supported the national parks department in carrying out hippopotamus and crocodile counts in the Lower Shire in 1997. Using methodologies established for the earlier counts, the project is advocating semi-annual crocodile counts.

Data generated from such inventories, coupled with historic data, will help in establishing reliable trends in crocodile population levels.

The plan could be hampered, however, by actions taken Wednesday by Malawi President Bakili Muluzi. On Wednesday night, Muluzi sacked his entire cabinet, apparently in response to allegations of corruption.

The office of the President will be responsible for all government duties, including environmental and wildlife issues, until a new government is in place. Error: Unable to read footer file.