Ongoing battle between elephants and humans in Pongola

The ongoing problem between humans and elephants in the vicinity of the private Pongolo Game Reserve East (PGRE) has recently been tackled by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
According to Ezemvelo, elephant-human conflict results in habitat loss and fragmentation. When elephants and humans interact, there is conflict in the form of crop raiding; injuries and deaths to humans, caused by elephants; and elephants being killed by humans for reasons other than ivory and habitat degradation.
An estimated 69 elephants have been roaming out of PGRE into the Phongola Nature Reserve (PNR) since 2015 when the Phongola River dried up. The ensuing conflict between humans and wildlife contributed to the rise of elephant poaching incidents. PGRE introduced elephants in 1997 when it was authorised by the then Natal Parks Board. Unfortunately, these elephants (belonging to PGRE) found their way to the Eastern shores of PNR, where they have been multiplying and in turn have destroyed the biodiversity, causing conflict with community members living in that area.

Discussions to find a solution to this problem have failed. A possible solution entails PGRE catching and relocating these elephants. There seems to be some reluctance on the PGRE side to relocate the elephants back to their property.

Together with Ezemvelo, several non-government organisations (NGOs) – including Conservation Solutions and the Aspinall Foundation – will approach PGRE to trans-locate these elephants either back to their property or to any national or international protected areas as soon as an area has been identified. The first group of elephants will probably be moved in March/April if a protected area has been secured. If there are no suitable areas in the county, they will be trans-located outside of the county within the next year or so.

This project will be funded by the two NGOs mentioned above, who have expertise in translocation of all species, large or small. The Aspinall Foundation is a top-notch animal conservation charity that protects endangered animals across the globe. They would also do an elephant count and check if any crime scenes still need to be identified. Ezemvelo is currently only aware of five crime scenes where elephants were slaughtered. This excludes the young elephant that was snared at Eswatini and all six elephants that were killed in the past six months.
Ezemvelo Acting CEO Siphesihle Mkhize mentioned that, “Elephants are a big problem, not only in KZN but in South Africa as a whole. We no longer have sufficient land to keep them. The sooner the land issue for elephants is addressed, the better, as they are also animals that cause many human-wildlife conflicts. I also appeal to protected areas with extra space for elephants to contact us. We will donate the elephants. We have already secured funding from our partners, who have committed to pay for the translocation to any protected area inside or outside South Africa.”

Mkhize further expressed his appreciation to the various NGOs who committed to the translocation of the elephants. “The success of conservation in the province also depends on the positive role played by NGOs and the private sector. It cannot be that we only see NGOs when they are criticising the government. It would be nearly impossible for Ezemvelo to undertake the translocation without the involvement of the two NGOs mentioned above.”

Conservation Solutions and Ezemvelo have been working together for a long time, and have had success in moving animals such as rhinos, giraffe and elephants, nationally and across the borders of the country.
Ezemvelo has engaged with the local community to discuss the recent human-wildlife conflict that is affecting the Galweni, Mpondwana and Mombeni areas. These engagements have involved police units such as the SAPS Water Wing and National Intervention Unit maintaining law and order within the Phongola Nature Reserve.

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