Elephant Conservation and Communities in Namibia

Namibia’s semi-arid desert northwestern region is home to desert adapted elephants. Early population estimates were 2500-3500 elephants, but a mixture of poaching, human-elephant conflict, and droughts have reduced their numbers to less than 200 individuals. Ongoing drought has pushed this small population towards commercial lands causing increasing human-elephant conflict (HEC) in regions previously unaffected by this problem. This project addresses HEC through the expansion of the Elephant Guard Unit which aids in night watches at homesteads and conducts elephant safety education and training to empower local community members. An Early Alert System operated through EarthRanger will be expanded by fitting additional elephants with GPS satellite collars. This data will be used to protect communities as well as identify movement patterns and travel corridors, and prioritize HEC mitigation target zones. Additional research into the unique elephants of this region will include an elephant census and population breakdown for the Greater Omatjete and Kunene South Elephant Management Groups, and elephant behavioral studies. In order to advance regional conservation goals, a conservation symposium will be hosted in Namibia as well.

IEF #AF1036

Project Years: 2020 – 2025

Project Partners:
Christin Winter, Elephant Human Relations Aid, Namibia