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9) Elephants and Humans (cont) |
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When we first started this site, we asked the question : how can we save the elephants without encumbering the farmers who already find it difficult to feed their families ? At that time, there were already more than 4 000 elephants. Today, we estimate their number to be closer to 4,500! They now escape frequently from the reserves set aside for them. They create enormous damage for which the farmers are hardly recompensed, if at all. In the region of Tuy, for example, the population asked their parliamentary representative (a member of the party in power) to get rid of the elephants. He either did nothing or could do nothing about it. At the last elections his party suffered a huge set back in the area. However, there are funds available to recompense the farmers. They are insufficient, but they are also badly managed. Those farmers who go to the trouble to make an official report receive nothing in return. Most no longer bother. We publish here one of these official reports, with the intention of drawing the attention of the Burkinabe authorities to the problem, but also to inform the people who defend the elephants without paying much attention to the needs of the farmers who suffer from their plundering D.R.A.H.R.H. DES Hauts-Bassins
D.P.A.H.R.H. du Tuy
Z.A.T.A. de Houndé - U A A de Boni | Burkina Faso
Unité - Progrès - Justice
Boni le 11/09/2002 |
Official Damage Report
| | On Tuesday 10th September 2002, an assessment was made of damages by the following named agents, according to requisition n° 2002-02/MATD/PTUY/DBN of the 21.8.2002, in the presence of the plaintiff: Agents : 1. Mr Sanou Klessin chief UAA of Boni
2. Mr Zongo Julien Chief S.D.E.C.V. of Boni P.I. The damages were inflicted on a field of corn, cotton, sorghum and millet, belonging to Mr Yimien Ambroise, identity card n° 5323XXX , issued on the 18.6.1996 by the SP of Bagassi, catechist, domiciled at Boni, by a herd of elephants of an unknown number during the night of 14 to15 August 2002. The results of the assessment are : | | Investment | area | Stage of development | Ave. product’n of field | Percentage of damage | Amount of damage | Price per Kg | Value of damage | | corn sorghum cotton millet | 1 ha 0,25 ha 1 ha 1 ha | Maturité Epiaison Capsulation Maturité | 2 t / ha 1 t / ha 2 t / ha 900 kg / ha | 100 % 40 % 10 % 100 % | 2 t 400 kg 200 kg 900 kg | 135 F / Kg 130 F / Kg 200 F / Kg 240 F : Kg | 270 000 F 72 000 F 40 000 F 216 000 F |
Total value of damage : 270 000 F + 72 000 F + 40 000 F + 216 000 F = 598 000 F + Travel expenses for agents : 3 000 F x 2 = 6 000 F Total amount payable to the farmer : 598 000 F + 6 000 F = 604 000 F (*) Identity of person responsible for damage : the person responsible for the damage is the State of Burkina Faso, in the person of the Ministry for Environment and the conditions of life. Signed : | | Le Chef SDECV de Boni P.I. | Le Chef U.A.A. de Boni | Signatures follow
(*) to be compared with the salaries of Burkina Faso
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View from the South