Edited by Rachel Heung
African savannah elephants, or African bush elephants, are the largest species of elephant in the world. They are exclusively found in Africa, hence the name . They are mostly found in the Southern and Eastern areas, throughout 23 countries in the continent, including Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa. African savannah elephants contribute to the ecosystem of the habitats they live in, from savannahs (both open and wooded) to deserts, and forests, by reducing tree densities. Many species rely on elephants to upkeep their environment. The WWF marks them as an endangered species. This is due to two main, human caused factors- ivory poaching and habitat loss. Over the past 75 years, elephant populations have decreased by over 50% (African Savanna, n.d).
In late 2020, Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism placed 170 wild African bush elephants up for auction, willing to sell to those who could meet the criteria. This includes; quarantine facilities, a game-proof fence certificate for the elephants, etc. Increased incidents of human conflict was the key motivating factor behind the decision. Elephants have unknowingly encroached into human territory, posing a danger to civilians. Causing Namibia to allow the act of increased trophy hunting and exportation of live animals. The funds would be used to protect the species (Namibia to Auction, 2020).
Namibia’s elephant conservation efforts have been remarkably successful, prompting the sale of the elephants. The savannah elephant population has grown to an estimated 7,500 in 1995 to 24,000 in 2021. The African bush elephants have also been found in places where they went locally extinct over half a decade ago, expanding their range. The sale of elephants mentioned previously has not affected the elephant population (Kooper, 2021).
The conservation efforts are still ongoing, the government recently launching a new 10 year plan for African bush elephant conservation. The new plan focuses on managing the elephants at a local level, where regional managers will implement different innovative strategies based on locally accepted measures. A new “Wildlife Corridors Strategy” was also announced, providing management and protection of common movement routes/corridors that limit direct human contact to reduce conflict and promote biodiversity. So far, five of these “corridors” have been identified in the northeast Zambezi region (Xinhua, 2021).
References
African savanna elephant. (n.d.). World Wildlife Fund.
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/african-savanna-elephant
Kooper, L. (2021, October 22). Elephant conservation efforts yield results, Shifeta. The
Namibian. https://www.namibian.com.na/106568/read/Elephant-conservation-efforts-
yield-results-Shifeta
Löfvenberg, M. (2017, November 6). Elephant surrounded by grass plains [Photograph].
Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/FgW0M1ybeh8
Namibia to auction 170 wild elephants, saying rising numbers threaten people. (2020,
December 3). The Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/03/namibia-
to-auction-170-wild-elephants-saying-rising-numbers-threaten-people
Xinhua. (2021, October 24). Namibia launches elephant conservation, management plan for
next decade. Global Times. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202110/1237098.shtml
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