Malawi court rejects challenge on relocation of elephants, nine more moved

Malawi continued relocation of elephants as on Thursday morning nine elephants were moved from Phirilongwe just south of Lake Malawi   in Mangochi district to Majete Wildlife Reserve after courts threw out a challenge to have their relocation stopped.

 High Court which  stopped the evacuation of more than 60 elephants  after an injuction was sought by  local villagers led by Mr I Khama on Tuesday vacated the injuction and ruled the capture and translocation of the elephants  which have been at the centre of fierce human-elephant conflict are being moved.

After the court order, evacuation of the elephants resumed

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which has partnered with Malawi government on the rescue operation said it was delighted with the High Court determination.

 “There was great excitement among the local community here yesterday evening,” said Neil Greenwood, Campaigns Officer for IFAW, who is assisting with the move. “At least 300 villagers sang and danced outside our capture headquarters to celebrate the court support for the IFAW project.”

 IFAW’s capture team went straight to work this morning and safely captured a family group of nine elephants – five males and four females, including a very young calf.

 “After an enforced break of 10-days there is no time to lose, so the capture team got to work at first light today and the nine elephants are on their way to Majete,” said Greenwood.

 Thursday’s capture brings the tally of elephants relocated to 18 – the mission intends to rescue the entire herd of more than 60 elephants in the next few weeks and move them to put an end to years of fierce human-elephant conflict in the district.

Dozens of people are reported to have been killed by the elephants and the elephants in turn are killed and cruelly persecuted by local subsistence farmers intent on protecting their crops and livelihoods from the animals.

 IFAW said an extensive community consultation process prior to the exercise revealed that the majority of community members supported the relocation effort.

The animal welfare organization said the Malawi government has taken an ethical, pragmatic approach to solving the dilemma of the Phirilongwe elephants by partnering with them to move the elephants to Majete Wildlife Reserve which is formally protected and offers the elephants a safe, secure home for the long-term.

 IFAW said it remained dedicated to focusing on regional conservation efforts such as trans-boundary wildlife linkages to preempt human-wildlife conflict situations similar to that which has existed in Phirilongwe.—(Additional reporting IFAW)

Tagged with: Elephants, IFAW, Khama, Majete Game reserve, Mangochi

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