the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

permeability. Pollutants can therefore travel much greater distances through the
soils.
This fact is illustrated by McCarthy et al (1994) who state that the water table in the
Okavango Delta is usually less than one metre below the surface during the flood
season, and hence it is very difficult to prevent the contamination of groundwater by
wastewater. The contamination of the Delta with raw sewage and other chemicals
from wastewater could lead to the growth of harmful algal blooms and aquatic
weeds. The growth of blue-green algae (Microcystis sp) has already been reported
in the Okavango system, which becomes toxic under certain conditions. The
contamination of groundwater by nitrate and fecal bacteria from septic tanks is a
problem in the Delta, particularly in areas where these tanks are located at sites
where the groundwater level is very high (10 metres or less below the surface).
8.3.2.4 Feeding of Wildlife in the Okavango Delta
The feeding of wild animals by tour operators is reported to be common in the
Okavango Delta, particularly in the Moremi Game Reserve. Wildlife species such as
baboons, monkeys, hyenas, jackals, crocodiles and various birds, including fish
eagle, are fed in order to attract them to specific areas for closer game viewing
experiences for tourists. As a result, many of these animals, particularly baboons,
monkeys, jackals and hyenas become a nuisance in tourist camps, eventually
posing a threat to the tourists themselves. Often, animal control measures (usually
shooting the animal/s) have to be taken to address the problem, and the killing of
these animals often has negative impacts upon the wildlife population in the area.
Moreover, as experience from Game Reserves and National Parks throughout
Southern Africa (including Botswana) shows, feeding elephants is an extremely
dangerous activity. The feeding of elephants around campsites and lodges quickly
creates a dangerous situation where the elephantls begin to associate tourists and
their vehicles or tents with such foods. This places tourists at risk as the elephants
often start 'attacking' vehicles and destroying tents in an attempt to find food, doing
great damage in the process. For example, the Savuti National Park in the Chobe
area experienced such problems with several elephants throughout the late 1980s
and early 1990s. All of these elephant had to eventually be destroyed, as
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