• Rep Agrimonitor

Watch elephants safely (AGRI MONITOR)

• 7 Months Ago - 2024-04-02 00:00:00

Increased tourism in the Ugab River and Huab River regions is leading to concerns about behavioural changes in desert-adapted elephants.

To foster ethical and responsible tourism in the area, Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) in collaboration with Tourism Supporting Conservation (TOSCO) recently facilitated a workshop for field guides from surrounding lodges in the Ugab River region.

The four-day training series was aimed at equipping guides with an understanding of the role they play in protecting elephants and tourists. Vital skills training in conducting an ethical elephant-viewing experience also formed part of the workshop.

Similar workshops were presented to lodge managers from the Ugab River and Huab River regions.

Another workshop will be hosted next month for guides in the Huab River region.

Increased pressure

“The pressure of increased visitors to the area and the consequent increase in both private and guided elephant tours, is concerning,” Rachel Harris, Managing Director at EHRA, says.
“We’ve seen several vehicles, often more than three large game viewers, tailing the elephants at the same time, driving within proximity of the elephants, often without respecting elephants’ personal space, or leaving an escape route for the elephants or for themselves.”

According to Harris, all known desert-dwelling elephant populations have decreased significantly largely due to human-elephant conflicts (HEC).

The training of guides to follow ethical guiding regulations is therefore vital in ensuring the long-term survival of the resident desert-dwelling elephant population.

Elephants have often been observed at lodges and campsites raiding bins, food boxes, fridges and trailers to access fruits, vegetables and bread.

“Consequently, elephants started approaching cars to reach food that visitors brought along with them in the vehicles. This behaviour can lead to fatalities,” Harris says.

Alerts

To mitigate HEC, EHRA will provide lodges and campsites with alerts from the satellite collars to warn them if elephants are within proximity to keep staff and guests safe.

Various establishments in the area have also agreed to stand together to enforce an Ethical Code of Conduct for elephant viewing tours.

With the Easter weekend coming up, Harris appeals to members of the public, locals, and tourists to adhere to the stipulations of the ethical code of conduct as follows:

• Always maintain a safe distance of between 70 and 80 metres from the elephants.

• When stopping to view the elephants, park your vehicle in such a way that you can easily drive off if the elephants approach your vehicle.

• No more than 15 minutes per sighting.

• No more than three cars at any sighting.

• Refrain from taking food along on elephant viewing tours.

• Do not allow your behaviour to disturb the elephants. For example, if they are sleeping, they need to be given the space to continue to do this.

• Campers should not set up their camps in the riverbed.

• Driving with people on the back of open bakkies should be avoided.

• Always remain inside your vehicles.

• Campers should lock their food away and hand in any fruits or vegetables to the lodge or campsite reception area for safekeeping.

Radio network

“We agreed to all be part of the same radio network so that the guides can speak to each other to plan their drive. For instance, if they know that EHRA is already at the elephants but no other cars are, they know to just wait 15 minutes until they have a sighting on their own,” Harris says.

“We are also communicating this to tour companies and engaging with the car hire companies,” she adds.

According to her, lodges in the area have agreed on using a briefing sheet to provide to guests who set out on their own to view the elephants. And with a brand-new elephant calf, Mimi, recently born in the Huab River region, guides and visitors to the area are encouraged now more than ever to be extra cautious and practice responsible conduct when viewing elephants.

Violations of any provisions within the ethical code of conduct can be reported to EHRA or TOSCO.

To learn how you can take part, or make a donation, head to https://www.ehranamibia.org/donate