Phirilongwe Elephant Translocation Dispute Ends In Relocation

A South African relocation effort of Phirilongwe elephants, elephants living in the Phirilongwe forest, is said to have neared completion. According to the Zahid Rajan Solidarity Network Kenya, the public has been misled into donating rescue dollars to the International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW), believing the elephants were in jeopardy. Claiming the Phirilongwe elephant "rescue operation" to be a violation of the Malawi constitution, a Mr. Ismail Khan was reported to have filed court papers on behalf of the Friends of the Phirilongwe, requesting that an Environmental Impact Assessment be conducted in advance to determine whether the elephants should be relocated. While the court injunction passed, opponents eventually got the Phirilongwe relocation underway and to date has resulted in the translocation of over forty-four elephants.

While Friends of the Phirilongwe and other supporters—those who want do not want the elephants moved—seem to agree the forest is being cut down, their is also an argument, objectors say, that is supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature whose 2005 paper suggests the elephants play a critical role in maintaining what is left of the forest.

The elephants, which entered the region along Malawi Lake after their previous habitat had dried up from drought, had come into close proximity of human habitat. There were reports of elephant stampedes in the midst of human populations resulting in human deaths. Some worried for the safety of human lives while others grew concerned for the safety of the elephants themselves. Eventually locals pressed harder for the elephants translocation and got their way.

According to the IFAW claims, "There’s no doubt in my mind that the relocation of the Phirilongwe elephants is the only realistic option for protecting the Phirilongwe elephants. The project will not only benefit the lives of the elephants but also those of the greater community." According to the WWF report in question, it did also conclude that translocation of the Phirilongwe elephants was a viable option from an ecological standpoint.

The elephants are being darted and transported from Phiriongwe forest to Majete Wildlife Reserve which is approximately 90 miles away.

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