Malawi Elephant Translocation

To date at least 10 people have been killed by elephants in Phirilongwe, an area just south of Lake Malawi. There is a concentrated community of about 3,000, mostly subsistence farmers, and this creates fierce competition between people and elephants for resources. To protect themselves and their crops against the elephants villagers often resort to cruelty using arrows, snares, poison and nail-bedded planks to hunt and maime the elephants.

In order to address the situation both ethically and practically, in June  2009, IFAW will partner with the Malawi government through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and assist in the translocation of the Phirilongwe elephants. It is absolutely vital to implement a long-lasting solution that addresses the security of both animals and people.

Overview
The Phirilongwe herd is made up of several family groups and individual bulls – the total number of elephants is estimated by the Malawi Department of National Parks and Wildlife to be between 50 and 100 individuals, although an aerial survey in October 2007 counted 57 elephants.

The Phirilongwe region is heavily populated by subsistence farmers and there is severe conflict between local villagers and the elephants, with multiple deaths reported. The elephants’ raid crops, food gardens and granaries and villagers have resorted to using often cruel and sometimes lethal methods to protect themselves and their livelihoods – these methods include the use of snares, poison, nail-embedded planks, spears and bullets.

In a 2007 exercise to fit radio collars to some of the Phirilongwe elephants, three of the eight elephants collared had amputated trunks from being caught in snares. Of the others two had bullet wounds.

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Background
The elephants that inhabit the Phirilongwe Forest Reserve and the surrounding area in the Ndowa Hills are the remnants of once large herds that occupied southern Malawi. Now the increasing human population pressures and encroachment into this area threaten the lives of these elephants and the local people. More than 30 villages are situated on and around what was once prime elephant habitat. Remaining habitat is being overtaken by these subsistence farmers and elephant migration corridors are being closed off.

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Translocating the Elephants
IFAW agrees with the Malawi government that the best way to end the conflict is to move the elephants to a properly managed protected area and has answered the call for help to assist in moving these elephants.

The elephants will be translocated to the Majete Wildlife Reserve, about 250 km south of Phirilongwe. Majete is a secure reserve, and has been fenced with an elephant-proof fence.

The translocation itself is intended to take place during June 2009. Preparations for the move will begin some three weeks earlier, when an advance party arrives in Malawi to conduct a “sensitization” process. This will include explaining to village leaders about the forthcoming move, safety and security procedures.

In addition, the dirt track roads leading into the capture area will need to be graded and river and stream crossings bridged for easy access and exit by recovery vehicles.

The capture itself will require the elephants to be darted and tranquillised from helicopter and on foot. The elephants will be transported on board modified game trucks to Majete Wildlife Reserve and escorted by the Malawi Traffic Department.

On arrival they will be kept in special boma enclosures for monitoring before each family group is allowed free into the sanctuary area.

Please visit IFAW’s Animal Rescue Blog at www.animalrescueblog.org for frequent updates on the move!

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