Larger than Belgium and widely celebrated as one of the last unspoiled spots on the planet, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park straddles Botswana and South Africa and is home to most of southern Africa's diverse animal population. But soon it will be home to drilling rigs. The government of Botswana has reportedly sold the rights for shale gas operations in more than half of the Kgalagadi.





Gus Mills has worked in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park for 18 years. (Margie Mills) "It was a great shock. It came sort of out of nowhere," Gus Mills tells As It Happens host Carol Off. "We had no idea any of this was going on so it was a devastating blow and everyone in conservation circles in southern Africa is really shocked by this news."

Mills is a research scientist. He has spent 18 years studying cheetahs and hyenas, which are just some of the animals that make up the sprawling 37,000 square kilometre park's diverse ecosystem.

"One of its real primary aspects is it's a naturally functioning ecosystem which is quite unusual these days," Mills explains. "There's very little need to manage, the area can go on and manage itself and has done so for millions of years."

Throughout the interview, a chorus of frogs is heard and at one point Mills holds up his phone to let them "show their appreciation."



Take a listen:



Mills says that the Botswana government has refused to comment on the controversial decision. He says the proposed area where the fracking will take place runs along the Nossob River, which forms the international boundary between Botswana and South Africa.



Mills admits he's no expert on fracking but says he knows the potential ecological effects on the vast and largely arid park are devastating.

"Surface water is really non-existent. All the water that is there is underground water but that plays a big role in the underlying ecosystem. It provides water for plants, particularly the large trees, and so on." Mills explains. "It will probably, I would imagine, start contaminating and effecting the underground water sources as well, which are part of the system."

But for Mills, in addition to the water table, the inevitable damage above ground is particularly concerning.

"One of the real features of this park is that it's a really primeval pristine area that has very little human impact of any kind on it and it's a very large area that's left in the world, one of the very few where the footprint of modern humans is so small," Mills explains. "Just the fact that they are going to be bringing in a lot of infrastructure, it's going to be very disturbing to the serenity and the beauty of the area."