POLOKWANE – The operation, described as one of the largest elephant translocations ever recorded in South Africa, is part of a major conservation initiative to protect the welfare of wildlife in South Africa and help restore Mozambique’s elephant population.

For the first phase of the project, approximately 60 elephants will be transported in July and August from the VLNR to Zinave National Park in southern Mozambique. The remaining elephants will be moved to conservation areas that hold sufficient elephant carrying capacity within Mozambique from next year.

You might also want to read: No more rhinos in Polokwane’s Game Reserve

The Peace Parks Foundation will assist the De Beers Group with the translocation, ensuring the elephants’ social groups aren’t disturbed and that they flourish in their new habitat through ongoing monitoring of their well-being and enhanced protection efforts.

Covering 32 000 hectares and established in the early 1990s, the VLNR can accommodate around 60 elephants without adverse impacts on the surrounding ecosystem.

Currently, however, there are more than 270 elephants in the reserve, risking extensive damage to the ecosystem.

Wildlife populations in Zinave National Park, founded in the 1960s, have been critically depleted following Mozambique’s 15-year civil war and the park offers carrying capacity for large numbers of elephants across its 408 000 hectares.

There are around 60 elephants in the park currently.

The De Beers Group also provides Peace Parks Foundation with $500 000 (approximately R6,63 million) over five years towards anti-poaching support measures, which will include the hiring and training of new park rangers and the opening of new access roads to increase patrol coverage.

[email protected]