Court stops evacuation of elephants in Malawi
Malawi High Court has granted an injunction to villagers in Mangochi district restraining government and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) from moving over 60 elephants from the district on the southern shores of Lake Malawi to a wildlife reserve.
Court official said the injunction was sought by the people led by Mr. I Khama through Ralph and Arnold law firm.
The court respite came after government and IFAW had started to move the elephants on Monday morning from Phirilongwe village to the Majete Wildlife Reserve.
The judge however has ordered that the relocation of elephants be stopped.
Jason Bell-Leask, a director IFAW said the evacuation began with nine elephants, including three young calves that were tranquilized and lifted by a crane onto trucks for the six-hour journey to the reserve.
The relocation of the elephants was expected to be completed about three weeks.
Villagers sought the court order to stop the relocation pending the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment.
“These are our elephants they have always been here, there are more than 70, they are in good condition and do not present a danger unless provoked,” the villagers protest in a letter to Department of Environment Affairs.
But IFAW claims local farmers sometimes use violence to protect their crops from raids by the elephants, and at least 10 people and a number of elephants have recently died in such confrontations.
Tagged with: Elephants, IFAW, Khama, Majete Game reserve, Mangochi, Ralph and Anorld
koma anthu akumudzi kwathu sadzatheka mpaka kalekale.
I personally come from Phirilongwe, Infact, My Mother’s house is along the forest which sorrounds Phirilongwe Mountain(hill) whatever. We are close to khungwa fp school.
Njobvuzo zimabvutadi and i Lost a good friend due to njobvu. Now here they come kukaniza kuzisamutsa blablabla who is Mr khama? Wabwera liti kunoko? Iyeyo mmene anthu amafa atapondedwa ndi njobvu analiko? Waba ndalam akujoweni, kudzanamiza anthu kuno amvekere njobvu zisasamuke? he should be investigated for porcg=hing. If the elephants are not relocated,it ill onlybenefit a fewindividuals. I for one would embark on a friendd of Philosopher cmpaign so that these elephants are relocated and we should be living in harmony.
GUYS, THIS MAN I.KHAMA/KHAN AS SOME OF YOU CALL HIM, IS A GENIUS! HE HAS MADE HISTORY!
IN FUTURE, I WILL SEEK A COURT INJUCTION IF GOVERNMENT WILL BE WILLING TO TRANSFER CROCKDILES FROM NSANJE FOR PORT CONSTRUCTION!
YOU KNOW WHAT, MY LAWYERS WILL REFER TO HIS CASE “ACCORDING TO I. KHAMA/KHAN AND ETAL,JUNE 2009 IN A CASE :I.KHAMA VS GOVT ON TRANSFER OF WILD ANIMALS(ELEPHANTS)”
WE NEED MALAWIANS WHO CAN MAKE HISTORY LIKE THIS MAN! WELL DONE KHAMA/KHAN! YOU HAVE ADDED A REFERENCE IN COURT PROCEDINGS!
KHAMA WOYEEEEE!
m unthu ndiwe wachabe.
We dont need hisr=tory makers when it comes poika pa zinthu za moyyo wa munthu being at risk!!!
countrymen,this khan does not in fact stay anywhere near where the elephants reign havoc and kill people…hes just a front for foreign crooks dotted on the mangochi coastline…in fact,ralph kasambara is using the chap to frustrate the govt using the same judge you and i know very well.if khan is indeed acting in the interests of the villagers,bwanji nanga mafumu onse kumeneko alemba kalata yonena kuti they dont know the guy and that they are desperate for the elephants to be moved?bwanji nanga anthu amavina mmidzimo mmene njovu zoyamba zinachotsedwa?khaniyo is in fact a mozambican!
A Malawi anzanga, those people who really know Phirilongwe area appreciate the fact that people have been trumped on by elephants in this area and it is illogical for someone to go to court and stop the relocation exercise. I have worked in this area and I believe these elephants should go until such a time that an electric fence like the one being contructed around Majete is done. This Khama or what ever they are called does not represent the real interests of the people of Phirilongwe.