MALVERN KARIDOZO: Project Update: August 2007

Opening up fields in a wildlife habitat remains a major threat to wildlife survival

Mapping

Five prominent elephant corridors passing through human settlements were identified and mapped. Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) incidences in these corridors are being recorded and in one of these incidences a man was killed at night by an injured elephant with a calf.

Public Meetings and trainings: Two trainings on natural resources management and HEC mitigation were conducted using theatre and drama to sensitize communities.

Ground Surveys through transect walks to verify wildlife movements began in June and have been carried out across the entire study area. A repeat exercise will be conducted to verify initial efforts.

Crop and property damage assessment is currently focussed on small vegetable gardens, grain stores and water sources as there are no field crops except on irrigated commercial farms along the Zambezi River.

Land-use planning: A stakeholders’ meeting involving government authorities, local council land planners, community representatives, several other organizations and individuals was held in July.