EHRA and MEFT empower elephant conservation
Innovative collaring initiative
Namibia's northwest region faces a significant challenge: human-elephant conflicts threaten the safety and well-being of both people and free-roaming elephants.To tackle the problem and find sustainable solutions, Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) have taken a significant step forward in their conservation efforts by fitting eight elephants with state-of-the-art satellite collars.
With the implementation of an early elephant warning system and extensive long-term elephant movement studies, EHRA and MEFT are pioneering a groundbreaking approach that aims to foster coexistence and harmony in the region.
Over three years, EHRA conducted extensive fieldwork, resulting in the successful identification of the herds and adult males roaming the Greater Omatjete Elephant Management Area. As a result of these efforts, all herds and four adult males have now been fitted with satellite collars.
Rachel Harris, managing director of EHRA, explains: “We meticulously tracked the eastern elephants, collected identification photos of all adult elephants, recorded valuable data on age and sex of the herd members, and utilized camera traps to compile comprehensive information on these elephants. We also noticed an increasing trend of interactions between the well-known desert-adapted Ugab west elephants and the resident elephants in the east.”
By employing geofences around villages and farms, the organisations can promptly warn communities of approaching elephants, enhancing the safety of the rural population. Furthermore, EHRA will closely monitor the movements of the elephants and analyse their primary migration routes. This valuable information aims to support the ongoing quest for long-lasting solutions to the prevailing human-elephant conflicts on communal and commercial farms.
Meticulous planning
The collaring project required meticulous planning and coordination. EHRA spent one week before the project tracking the targeted elephants with three separate teams to ensure precise execution. When MEFT arrived with their game capture team, along with a helicopter, the collaring process was completed swiftly and efficiently.
“We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding collaboration and teamwork demonstrated between EHRA and MEFT. The MEFT team performed exceptionally well, fitting the collars quickly and efficiently, while ensuring the safety of the elephants and the ground team,” added Christin Winter, Conservation Program Manager at EHRA, who was instrumental in the initiative.
As part of the government's National Elephant Conservation and Management Plan, management groups have been or will be established in areas with elephant populations. These groups facilitate localised decision-making and tailored solutions to address elephant conflicts based on the specific needs of each community.
Emphasising the importance of technology, the advancement of the Elephant Early Warning System has been prioritised as a crucial action step. Within this system, EHRA's communal elephant guards play a pivotal role in alerting community members about elephant movements and reminding them of protective measures.
The concept is pioneered by the newly formed Greater Omatjete Elephant Management Unit (GO EMU), which has taken significant strides in conservation by implementing action steps that have been unanimously agreed upon by the committee.
Latoya Huses, Chairperson of the GO EMU, says: “The stakeholders identified the challenges that communities face when co-existing with elephants, and devised tailored conflict mitigation strategies for each farm or village. One of the action steps was to fit all resident herds with satellite collars and fully implement the early warning system to empower the local communities to safely manage human-elephant conflicts. These methods have been designed to establish a sustainable and harmonious relationship between elephants and the local communities.”
Harris adds: “This undertaking would not have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of various donors and organisations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the MEFT, Namibia University of Science and Technology, International Elephant Foundation, Aktionsgemeinschaft Artenschutz e.V., Prince Bernhard Nature Fund, and the European Outdoor Conservation Association.”
To learn how you can take part, or make a donation, head to https://www.ehranamibia.org/donate