Malema, Mozambique, April 24, 2026 (Lusa) – A herd of elephants has invaded the Malema district in Nampula, northern Mozambique, destroying at least 10 hectares of crops in one week, an official source said.
“The animals (…) have destroyed a 10-hectare crop in less than a week; that is no small matter,” said António Ipo, director of the Malema District Economic Activities Service, quoted on Thursday by public television.
The animals, whose exact number remains unspecified, invaded at least two villages in the district, destroying a "significant part" of the maize and pigeon pea crops, according to the official. The herd travelled from the neighbouring Niassa province, home to the Niassa Special Reserve, the largest protected area in the country.
"They appeared from the Niassa side, crossed the River Lúrio, and are here with us. These are fully protected animals that we can only drive away as a first step. For now, we have no reports of attacks on people, but the abnormal situation is this destruction of crops," he said. He warned of further agricultural losses while the elephants remain in the district. "We are coordinating with the provincial government to determine how to handle these animals," he said.
Incidents involving wildlife are common in rural Mozambique, with riverbanks posing an increased risk, especially during the ongoing rainy season.
The Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries, Roberto Albino, acknowledged on 8 April the problem of growing elephant populations in Southern Africa and called for a coordinated regional response.
Data from the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) show that wildlife destroyed 955 hectares of crops, such as maize and cassava, between 2019 and 2023. A report from the National Statistics Institute (INE) indicated that the number of deaths from wildlife attacks almost tripled in 2023, reaching 159 victims.
The same report states that 205,375 people lived within Mozambique's protected areas across 162 communities in 2023. A further 501,737 people resided in 504 communities within the buffer zones surrounding these parks and reserves.
LN/RYOL // AYLS
Lusa
