Project to protect elephants and local community crops
IN THE first of many projects by animal protection organisations an elephant-proof fence, “Project Elefence,” was being constructed.
The aim was to provide a humane solution to mitigate elephant-human conflict instead of lethal population control methods such as culling around the Ithala Game Reserve, in northern Kwazulu-natal.
In collaboration with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, African Conservation Trust and the Bio-diversity Conservation Foundation, Humane Society International/africa was constructing the elephant-proof fence in the 290 km2 reserve. The fence was expected to deter resident large mammals from leaving the prescribed area and damaging local crops as they roam further afield.
As the boundary between several communities and the reserve was unfenced, the project aimed to provide security for the people living close by, while also protecting the resident wildlife. The fence would still allow smaller animals, including local cattle herds, to walk under the fence to access their grazing areas and the Phongolo river while keeping elephants in a confined space.
According to Hsi/africa, Project Elefence aligns with the South African Government’s White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity, approved and gazetted earlier this month. The white
paper aims to conserve and manage the country’s biodiversity, and ensure healthy ecosystems, ecological integrity and connectivity, with transformative socio-economic benefits to society for current and future generations.
The project was the result of many years’ work by Hsi/africa and partners which has placed establishing relationships with local communities and employed social ecologists right at the heart of the project.
Audrey Delsink, elephant biologist and Hsi/africa director of wildlife, said the project would benefit wildlife and the community at the same time.
“It was imperative for us to adopt a community-centred approach. We have eight communities including the land-owning communities of Ithala fully engaged in this project as active stakeholders and participants.”
The progress of the fence depends on environmental factors, such as heavy rain as KZN has experienced this winter, but should be completed by the end of this year.