Interview: China's 1.7 mln USD donation boosts Botswana's anti-poaching effort: minister

China's recent 1.7 million U.S. dollars to Botswana will help boost the latter's efforts on anti-poaching, the country's Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Minister Tshekedi Khama said Monday.

In a telephone interview with Xinhua on Monday, Khama revealed that the donation will go a long way in boosting the Botswana Wildlife and National Parks' wildlife protection and anti-poaching operations in the northwestern part of the southern African nation.

Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks is the recipient of diesel pumps, sleeping bags, backpacks, gasoline generators, tents, solar power sets and protective clothing donated by China, he said.

According to Khama, the 150 binoculars will be used to detect a massive landscape that has been targeted by poachers who use guns and similar weapons to kill elephants and other wildlife species.

"The government is committed to preserving natural resources and wildlife species," said Khama, adding that the donated equipment will be used in the resort areas of Kasane, Chobe and Kgalagadi in the northwestern part of the country which are prone to poaching.

Khama said the government of Botswana is financially burdened with the huge costs of conserving natural resources and wildlife.

"Working with China will help us attain our results, because they understand the position and challenges we are facing," said Khama.

He expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese government, saying the donation came at the right time and the wildlife officials in Botswana would be motivated to do their work diligently. Endite