Much of South Africa was gripped by a story of 11 elephants that embarked on an almost 800km journey from Mozambique to Kruger National Park over the past month.
While it is unclear why the all-male group of elephants undertook this great trek, it highlights the dire need for a wildlife corridor between the two countries.
In light of Mozambique’s history of civil war, from which many elephants were traumatised as a result of being caught in the crossfire, it was heartening to see that these particular elephants experienced no threat during their 500km journey across that country.
The same was true of their 128km stretch across Eswatini, despite stealing sugar cane as they searched for sustenance.
It’s sad that the same could not be said for South Africa.
No sooner had the 11 elephants – who stayed together for their entire mileage across Mozambique and Eswatini – crossed the border into South Africa, and they were shot at.
While only one of the 11 elephants sustained gunshot wounds, the act caused the group to disperse, placing the lives of each individual in danger as they were forced to fend for themselves.
While five of the 11 were captured and transported into northern Kruger, the injured bull had to be euthanised owing to the extent of its wounds, and the remaining four were unaccounted for.
This Monday, one of the four was spotted near Kruger, but unfortunately had been killed by community members before conservationist NPO members could arrange to dart, capture and transport it into the park.
As of Tuesday night, the remaining three were still unaccounted for.
It must be noted that the majority of the work on the ground in this situation, including the monitoring of these migrating elephants via their tracking collars, their relocation into Kruger and their continued monitoring, is undertaken by NPOs, with seemingly little assistance by State conservation entities.
South Africa prides itself on attracting tourists to the country’s many game reserves and protected areas, but the sad reality is that not all South Africans have bought into this conservation mindset.
Wildlife numbers are dwindling, and elephant populations, in particular, have dropped by 97% in the last 100 years.
Elephants are a keystone species (organisms that help define an entire ecosystem) and their survival is crucial.
Conservation cannot be in the hands of the few, but is a mindset that must be adopted by the masses if our wildlife is to survive.
Education is key, but even more so, investment in wildlife corridors and in the maintenance of existing protected areas is vital for animals to keep their place in this country.
Human-wildlife conflict is a real problem in South Africa, and one that demands urgent attention and intervention.
Wildlife is already limited to fenced-off reserves, meaning animals cannot migrate freely.
But where the situation demands migration, be it to introduce different genes or go in search of alternate food supplies, wildlife must be able to do so.
To cut off this option would be like trying to alter an animal’s DNA.
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