Elephant conservation project in Namibia

Planet

Tracking and monitoring the desert elephant in the southern Kunene Region of Namibia is vital in the efforts to restore healthy human – elephant relations. The data that is collected helps project staff to ascertain the positions and behaviours of the desert elephants and as a consequence, they are able to monitor them and help prevent any situation that may cause conflict with local communities.

As the desert-dwelling elephants of Namibia are still adapting to the end of poaching and over-hunting with vast areas of land now open to them, their movements and habits are still transient and largely unknown. The accurate data collected by the project is essential in changing this situation so the project can understand how best to preserve the species. This is currently the only organisation providing accurate data to the Namibian government on the movements of desert elephants.

People

The Namibian Desert Elephant Project works directly with local communities to protect vulnerable water-source structures from damage. This work, which volunteers are a vital part of, not only reduces human-elephant conflict but also benefits the communities living in in the elephant’s roaming areas.

The Desert Elephant project works on the belief that education is also an important tool in safeguarding the future and conservation of the country’s desert elephants. Volunteers also help with this effort, providing the local communities with information about the importance of conserving this magnificent species, and teaching strategies for living peacefully alongside them.