Elephant Translocation
Reasons for overpopulation at Majete National Park
● strict enforcement of anti-poaching laws
● successful breeding
Problems caused by elephant overpopulation
● greater competition, causing hunger for elephants
● damage to
in the park
The translocation process
● a suitable group of elephants from the same
was selected
● vets and park staff made use of
to help guide the elephants into an open plain
● elephants were immobilised with tranquilisers
– this process had to be completed quickly to reduce
– elephants had to be turned on their
to avoid damage to their lungs
– elephants’
had to be monitored constantly
– tracking devices were fitted to the matriarchs
– data including the size of their tusks and
was taken
● elephants were taken by truck to their new reserve
Advantages of translocation at Nkhotakota Wildlife Park
●
opportunities
● a reduction in the number of poachers and
● an example of conservation that other parks can follow
● an increase in
as a contributor to GDP