Crystabel Ukwuegbu
Rural communities near the Malawi-Zambia border are demanding compensation and considering legal action against an international wildlife conservation organization following the relocation of over 260 elephants to their area. Residents claim the elephants have caused multiple fatalities, injuries, and widespread destruction of crops and property, leaving thousands in distress.
British law firm Leigh Day is representing ten individuals living near Kasungu National Park, asserting that their lives have been severely impacted since the elephants arrived in 2022. The relocated animals, intended to remain within the park, have breached protective barriers, wandering into nearby farmlands in search of food and water.
Devastating Impact on Local Communities
According to Leigh Day, a local non-profit documented over 11,000 cases of damage linked to the elephants, ranging from personal injuries and deaths to property and crop destruction, with estimated losses reaching millions of dollars. Many affected residents are struggling to sustain their families due to the devastation of their farms and livelihoods.
“The community believes the welfare of the elephants was prioritized over their own safety and well-being,” the law firm stated.
Legal Action Against Conservation Group
The communities are demanding that the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), a U.S.-based conservation charity involved in the elephant relocation, address the harm they have suffered. Legal notices have been sent to IFAW’s offices in the U.K., Malawi, and Zambia, with residents prepared to take the case to a British court if no resolution is reached.
While expressing sympathy for human-wildlife conflicts in the Kasungu area, IFAW has denied responsibility. The organization stated that its role was limited to providing financial and technical support, while Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife had full jurisdiction over the relocation.
Balancing Conservation and Human Survival
This dispute highlights the complex challenge of conserving Africa’s wildlife while ensuring the safety of communities sharing the same environment. Decades of conservation efforts have led to growing elephant populations in some regions, creating new challenges for coexistence with humans.
The competition for resources has intensified due to climate change, making elephants—capable of consuming 150 kg (330 lbs) of vegetation and drinking 200 liters of water daily—particularly destructive. These animals can topple trees, trample farmland, destroy water sources, and raid storage facilities.
Some African nations manage elephant populations through culling or controlled hunting, despite criticism from conservationists. The controversy became especially prominent last year when Botswana’s former President Mokgweetsi Masisi, responding to German opposition to trophy hunting, sarcastically suggested sending 20,000 elephants to Germany.
The Controversial Relocation Project
The 2022 elephant relocation to Kasungu was initially celebrated as a conservation milestone. Over 260 elephants were sedated, lifted by cranes, and transported to the larger park, which had suffered severe poaching losses in the past.
However, residents reported issues almost immediately, with two deaths allegedly occurring within days of the elephants’ arrival. While acknowledging IFAW’s conservation efforts, the affected communities insist they deserve the right to live safely in their homes.
