TIG Post

Tag: elephants

  • Households allegedly share meat of two elephants gunned down at Tuluwe

    In the suburb of Central Gonja in the Savannah Region, two elephants were reportedly shot and killed, with their meat purportedly distributed among local households.

    Certain residents in the vicinity of Fufulso and Tuluwe have made claims that these elephants originated from the Mole National Park, a significant tourist attraction.

    According to their accounts, these two animals, along with a baby elephant, had managed to escape from the park. They were closely observed as they ventured into the dense forest, only to reemerge in Tuluwe, where they met their unfortunate demise.

    A resident in Fufulso told our news team that officials from, “Mole National Park were here yesterday [Wednesday] to tell us about the elephants from their park and pleaded we send word across to them if we see them. So, when I heard about what happened at Tuluwe, I informed them. But the meat was shared among the locals in Tuluwe,” the source alleged.

    According to Myjoyonline, it has been reported that the two elephants separated from the baby elephant and proceeded to cross the White Volta River via Yapei before arriving in Tuluwe, where they met their demise.

    However, Mahama Ali, the Manager of Mole National Park, expressed uncertainty regarding whether these animals truly originated from the park.

    “Yes, we got information about the incident and it’s about 100 km away from Mole. So, we are not sure the animals may be from Mole but that area is also, quite close to Bimbila, Damongo, probably, they are coming from Northern Togo to this part of the country,” he indicated.

    “So, I’m not very sure where the elephants are coming from but what I can confirm, is, I don’t believe they are from here”, Mahama Ali said.

    He, however, said he has deployed a seven-member team to Tuluwe to investigate the matter.

  • Elephants rampage houses, granaries in Mozambique in search of food and water

    Elephants rampage houses, granaries in Mozambique in search of food and water

    In the center of Mozambique, elephant herds have destroyed homes, granaries, and crops.

    The animals were in desperate need of water, according to Safala province officials, as their usual sources had completely dried up.

    They claimed that because the elephants were destroying everything in their path, some families had to leave their homes and relocate.

    Elephants encroaching on areas of human settlement are an increasing problem in Mozambique, and they are leaving conservation areas in search of food and water.

    The national environmental body says nearly 100 people have been killed by wild animals in the past two years.

  • Namibia to sell 170 elephants to protect its wildlife

    170 elephants in Namibia will soon be giving-up their homes amid pressure from drought and territorial conflict with humans.

    The Pachyderms on sale would comprise entire herds in order to preserve the important social structure in elephant communities.

    The ministry says the elephants are being sold “due to drought and increase in elephant numbers coupled with human-elephant conflict incidences.”

    – Wildlife Export –

    For export purposes, the buyers must ensure that CITES requirements are met by both exporting and importing states for the trade to be authorised,

    The sparsely-populated semi-arid southern African country has been criticized of recent for shooting elephants to control overpopulation.

    According official estimates, Namibia is home to some 28,000 elephants.

    Last year the government offered for sale around 1,000 animals including 600 buffalo, 150 springboks, 60 giraffes and 28 elephants.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Botswana probes death of 56 elephants

    Botswana is investigating the mysterious death of 56 elephants in the last two months. Authorities have ruled out poaching, as all carcasses were found intact.

    The country’s Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism says 12 elephants were found dead last week in villages in the Okavango Delta panhandle. In March, 44 animals died.

    Wildlife officer Dimakatso Ntsebe, downplayed the possibility of farmers poisoning the elephants, who tend to eat and stomp on crops.

    A local farmer says it is difficult to know the cause of death, but says elephants are a constant menace.

    “Farmers had a good harvest this year, but they constantly face problems with the encroaching animals,” the farmer said. “But it is a rare occurrence (to poison the elephants). It might be something else. We will have to wait for investigations.”

    Local conservationist Ive Maps, says the animals could have died of natural causes.

    “It is also possible that it is a natural phenomenon from the disease anthrax, which occurs in Botswana occasionally, especially after a good rainy season or a severe drought. Poisoning is not something common up there,” Maps said. “I think we should wait for pathology to find out if this is indeed poisoning or a natural anthrax phenomenon.”

    Fellow conservationist Neil Fitt says if the cause of death was poisoning, other species could be dying, as well.

    “I wonder why we have not heard reports of other species also dying,” he said. “If elephants are eating the poison, then it surely means other things will be eating it.”

    The public has been urged against consuming meat from dead carcasses.

    Botswana has the largest elephant population in Africa, numbering over 130,000 animals.

    Source: allafrica.com