The African savanna elephant is an icon of our continent. Its presence shapes our landscapes, sustains our ecosystems and carries profound cultural meaning. In South Africa, elephants are etched into our history, immortalised in rock art, celebrated in folklore and even engraved on our currency. For many, they are symbols of wisdom, memory and resilience.
Yet, for too many rural families living near our reserves and transfrontier conservation areas, the reality is far more complicated. Fields of maize or sugarcane flattened overnight. Water infrastructure destroyed in dry spells. Fences broken. And most devastating of all, lives lost – human and elephant alike. For a child walking to school at dawn or a farmer whose only source of income is trampled in a single night, the elephant becomes not a cultural treasure, but a source of fear and economic ruin.
This conflict is not the elephants’ fault. Like us, they seek food, water and safety. The roots of the problem lie in expanding human settlements, competition for scarce resources, climate change and fragmented conflict prevention systems. Left unchecked, human-elephant conflict will erode trust in conservation, weaken regional cooperation and undermine decades of hard-won gains.
Across southern Africa, innovative approaches have shown that coexistence is possible. Zimbabwe pioneered the use of chilli pepper deterrents (oleoresin capsicum) that have since spread across Africa and Asia. Namibia developed community-based monitoring systems to protect cattle from lions by using kraals and brush-packed fences, dramatically reducing losses. These examples prove that with ingenuity, commitment and community partnership, coexistence can be more than a slogan.
Southern Africa has the potential to grow a vibrant wildlife-based economy that contributes directly to local livelihoods while safeguarding biodiversity. But to get there we must replace reactive conflict management with proactive, evidence-based strategies that put people and wildlife at the centre. That means:
- Mapping and monitoring the frequency and locations of human-wildlife conflict incidents to guide targeted interventions;
- Establishing early warning systems that combine technology with local patrols;
- Planting crops and vegetation that draw elephants to safe zones while keeping them away from communities;
- Creating water sources for elephants away from villages;
- Sharing tourism and biodiversity benefits equitably with those who bear the daily costs of living alongside wildlife; and
- Strengthening partnerships with traditional leaders and knowledge holders.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF-7) project, “Reducing Human Wildlife Conflict through an Evidence-Based and Integrated Approach in Southern Africa”, is an opportunity to turn this vision into reality. It will test and scale up practical solutions, working through government departments, local governance structure and public-private partnerships. While piloted in three landscapes, the lessons learnt will be rolled out nationally, ensuring that no community is left without support.
Elephants are more than wildlife. In many traditional worldviews they are messengers, protectors and symbols of strength. Losing them would not only mean the loss of a species, but the severing of a cultural bond passed down through generations.
As we mark World Elephant Day under the theme Matriarchs and Memories, let us honour both the female leaders of elephant herds and the deep memories they carry – memories that stretch across decades, linking the past to the future. Our responsibility is clear: to ensure that future generations inherit not a legacy of conflict, but a heritage of coexistence.
This is not just a conservation challenge; it is a test of our values, our ingenuity and our political will. If we act now with urgency, accountability and unity, people and elephants can indeed thrive together. DM