12 Jul 2021

Junior Ranger Botswana has launched a booklet on mammals found in Botswana titled; Mammals around us. 

The booklet, published by the Knyphausen Foundation for the Junior Ranger Botswana Programme, aims to develop interest in the Junior Ranger members and other learners about wildlife found in Botswana.

Speaking at the booklet launch in Maun on Saturday, Junior Ranger International Coordinator Botswana, Theda Knyphausen said educating young people on wildlife was key for conservation in Botswana.

She said the child-friendly booklet would give children knowledge on wildlife in Botswana as well as be useful for people in Safari industry.

The booklet, Mammals around us, she said was the third booklet for Junior Ranger Botswana. 

She said the first booklet was Plants around us, which was published in 2018 followed by second booklet titled Birds around us that was published in 2019.

Knyphausen said the Mammals around us booklet was incepted in 2020 but was delayed by the COVID-19 challenge.

She said the Knyphausen Foundation worked with Peter Apps to produce the booklet.

Knyphausen thanked Junior Rangers Botswana members and coordinators for their commitment.

Junior Ranger Botswana, she noted was founded in 2017 in Maun to give member children knowledge on wildlife and opportunity to experience nature by taking them on retreats to the bush.

The author of the Mammals around us booklet, Peter Apps said Botswana was rich in wildlife therefore it was important for young people to have knowledge about their wildlife, which was a national pride.

Apps observed that some of Botswana’s wildlife was still found outside land reserved for wild animals such as national parks and game reserves.

He therefore said it was important for the communities and young people to have knowledge on wildlife.

He said the locals needed to be empowered to have viable solutions for challenges such as human-wildlife conflict.

The booklet, he said had contributions from different photographers locally and internationally. 

The booklet contains photographs of wild animals found in Botswana, their Setswana and English names as well as detailed description of the mammals and their tracks. Ends