Walking for coexistence: Elephant rangers complete 362 km trek
Twenty-four Namibian elephant rangers participating in the Kunene Elephant Walk arrived safely in Swakopmund on Friday after completing a 362-kilometre trek from Windhoek to the coast.
The group undertook the journey to raise awareness about their efforts to prevent human-elephant conflict in the Kunene Region, emphasising their belief in the peaceful coexistence of people and elephants.
Setting off from Windhoek on Sunday, 9 March, the 24 rangers completed the walk in just five and a half days. They aimed to cover approximately 76 km per day and camped in tents transported by a support vehicle.
In 2020, John Kasaona, the executive director of Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC), and his team launched the Kunene Elephant Rangers programme, training community game guards from 15 conservancies to monitor and manage elephant behaviour. These rangers are tasked with protecting farmland by redirecting elephants away from crops while allowing them to roam freely elsewhere. However, limited resources, including the lack of vehicles, make this work challenging.
"The Kunene Elephant Walk is more than a challenge. It’s a powerful call to action for human-elephant coexistence," a statement by the organisers noted. "By walking, the rangers aim to raise awareness and secure vital resources, including vehicles, to support their conservation efforts."
Dedicated to the cause
Kasaona, who also took part in the walk, said it demonstrates the elephant guardians' dedication to their cause, both to sponsors and the public.
“These elephant rangers are incredibly hard-working and dedicated. We want to show the world that we have people who are fit for the job – who can do what it takes to prevent human-elephant conflict while protecting our elephants,” Kasaona said.
The Kunene region is known for its rich biodiversity and successful community-based conservation programmes. However, alongside this success story, there is also a growing challenge: the increasing conflict between humans and elephants. While the elephant population is thriving, their presence near villages and farmland has become a daily struggle for rural communities.
As part of the project, the elephant guardians are trained in strategies such as early warning communication, constructing and managing water points, community education, and safe methods to deter elephants from human settlements.
The group undertook the journey to raise awareness about their efforts to prevent human-elephant conflict in the Kunene Region, emphasising their belief in the peaceful coexistence of people and elephants.
Setting off from Windhoek on Sunday, 9 March, the 24 rangers completed the walk in just five and a half days. They aimed to cover approximately 76 km per day and camped in tents transported by a support vehicle.
In 2020, John Kasaona, the executive director of Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC), and his team launched the Kunene Elephant Rangers programme, training community game guards from 15 conservancies to monitor and manage elephant behaviour. These rangers are tasked with protecting farmland by redirecting elephants away from crops while allowing them to roam freely elsewhere. However, limited resources, including the lack of vehicles, make this work challenging.
"The Kunene Elephant Walk is more than a challenge. It’s a powerful call to action for human-elephant coexistence," a statement by the organisers noted. "By walking, the rangers aim to raise awareness and secure vital resources, including vehicles, to support their conservation efforts."
Dedicated to the cause
Kasaona, who also took part in the walk, said it demonstrates the elephant guardians' dedication to their cause, both to sponsors and the public.
“These elephant rangers are incredibly hard-working and dedicated. We want to show the world that we have people who are fit for the job – who can do what it takes to prevent human-elephant conflict while protecting our elephants,” Kasaona said.
The Kunene region is known for its rich biodiversity and successful community-based conservation programmes. However, alongside this success story, there is also a growing challenge: the increasing conflict between humans and elephants. While the elephant population is thriving, their presence near villages and farmland has become a daily struggle for rural communities.
As part of the project, the elephant guardians are trained in strategies such as early warning communication, constructing and managing water points, community education, and safe methods to deter elephants from human settlements.
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