Luanda, Aug. 15, 2024 (Lusa) - Seven elephants arrived last week at the Cuatir nature reserve in southern Angola, where they were transferred due to the severe drought in Namibia, the reserve's manager, Stefan Van Wyk, told Lusa.
In total, 30 elephants will be relocated to Cuatir (Cuando Cubango province). They have lived across the border in another private reserve, Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, which has more than 8,000 animals.
Speaking to Lusa, the head of Cuatir, Stefan Van Wyk, emphasised that this is the first time in 50 years that elephants have returned permanently to that Angolan region due to the prolonged civil war that decimated much of the wildlife.
The conservationist explained that Namibia has been experiencing a drought for almost five years in the Okonjati area and that food has begun to run out in the reserve, leading to the need to relocate some of the animals.
‘We started preparing for this move a year ago,’ said Van Wyk, emphasising that Cuatir had “enough food, clean water and until 1974 had the largest area of elephants in Angola”.
In the Angolan wildlife reserve, which extends over 40,000 hectares, the elephants have an area of 20,000 hectares. They will cohabit with gungas, kudus, impalas, red palanquins and other antelopes, zebras, giraffes and various other species that have been reintroduced over the years.
About 1,500 kilometres from Luanda, between the Cubando and Cuíto rivers, Cuatir has been developed by the Namibian conservationist who discovered the site in 2012 and aims to make it the largest private park in Africa.
Two more trips are planned to bring the rest of the herd, and the group is estimated to be reunited in Angola by the end of this month.
The elephants were captured on the 5th and arrived at Cuatir 48 hours later, travelling over 700 kilometres of roads, ruts and sand in special containers adapted for these mammals.
A week later, Stefan Van Wyk said that the elephants ‘are very happy’
‘They don't walk much, they find food and water easily, and we meet them every day,’ he said, adding that “little by little, they will explore their new habitat better”.
In a statement, Mount Etjo Safari Lodge owners Alexander and Annette Oelofse report that the decision was motivated by the need to manage the wildlife population on site, which has exceeded the area's carrying capacity due to the current drought.
‘The relocation was essential to avoid further stress for the elephants and the local ecosystem. Another 10 to 20 animals will be relocated in the coming weeks,’ they emphasised.
The Angolan and Namibian authorities, as well as the veterinary teams that accompanied the operation, supported the transport and relocation of the animals.
‘Mount Etjo Safari Lodge remains committed to preserving and protecting wildlife. This relocation effort underlines our dedication to maintaining ecological balance and saying that future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty and diversity of Africa's wildlife,’ said those responsible.
RCR/ADB // ADB.
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