elephants on the move: translocating 250 elephants in Malawi

July 10, 2022

In a significant landmark for the conservation of Malawi, Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), African Parks (AP) and IFAW have begun translocating 250 elephants approximately 217 miles from Liwonde National Park to Kasungu National Park. 

The translocation will continue through the end of the July as part of a national conservation initiative to maintain healthy habitats in Malawi’s national parks, establish viable elephant populations and ensure the prosperity of local communities living around the parks. 

Additional wildlife, including buffalo, impala, sable, warthog and waterbuck will also be translocated from Liwonde to Kasungu. 

On Thursday, a family herd of 10 elephants walked peacefully from their transport vehicles into a holding boma at Kasungu; 41 elephants have been safely released into Kasungu since the translocation began over a week ago.  At the same time, a herd of 80 buffalo literally bounded from the confines of their transport vehicle into a separate boma, clearly happy to stretch their legs after hours on the road from Liwonde National Park.  

We’ll keep you updated as this incredible effort to restock Kasungu National Park and secure the future for Malawi’s wildlife continues in the coming weeks.