New solution for Mawana roaming elephant herd in northern KZN

THE roaming Mawana elephant herd, which was facing an uncertain future due to being in conflict with residents of neighbouring communities, has been given a lifeline.

- MERCURY CORRESPONDENT

The Mercury reported last year that the elephants were reportedly terrorising communities outside the reserve. In March last year, an elephant attacked a herdsman. Now a collaboration between Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (Ezemvelo), Humane World for Animals, and Loziba Wildlife Reserve has resulted in a solution to safeguard this free-roaming elephant population.

In a statement, Humane World for Animals said a proposal for an emergency area of approximately 8 300 ha south of the Mawana Reserve, referred to as the Loziba Wildlife Reserve, was presented at the Ulundi Legislature in November 2024.

"It was accepted, pending fencing compliance and acceptance of an Elephant Management Plan. In the interim, conflict mitigation initiatives were established to safeguard the affected communities and the elephants."