Fencing Initiatives

In today’s day and age, conflict between humans and wildlife is rife. With human populations burgeoning, and in effect settling on and developing more land, wildlife is left in a precarious position. Habitat that was once considered ‘home’ is now flourishing with human activities such as farming, and cattle grazing. Where are the animals to go when their homes are no longer?

Within some - but not all - areas, fencing is a viable solution to the challenges that are faced. Throughout various parts of Africa we see fences built which are benefiting both animals and people in their proximity. Fencing initiatives are undertaken by IFAW and other entities to protect humans and their livelihoods (i.e. farming, livestock) from the potential destruction and danger of wild elephants, as well as to protect the elephants.

While fencing is not always ideal – in that man-made boundaries for wildlife can often present problems of their own such as locally high numbers of elephants – in specific cases, this is the most viable mitigation means for human-elephant conflict.