Sharp rise in elephant numbers a threat to farms in Namibia

Human-elephant conflict in Namibia has had a significant impact on the production potential of farms, and has become a serious threat to the country’s animal health status.

Sharp rise in elephant numbers a threat to farms in Namibia
The rapid rise in elephant numbers in Namibia has the potential to bring the agriculture sector to its knees, according to the Namibia Agricultural Union.
Photo: Annelie Coleman
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Human-elephant conflict in Namibia has had a significant impact on the production potential of farms, and has become a serious threat to the country’s animal health status.

According to the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the elephant population increased from 7 000 in 1990 to 30 000 in 2016, and was currently estimated at 35 000 animals.

Piet Gouws, president of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), told Farmer’s Weekly the situation was only getting worse for farmers.

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However, he said, the problem was not necessarily the number of elephants, but rather the unwillingness of the state to put action plans into place to mitigate the impact elephants had on farming.

“Elephants have the potential to bring the national agriculture sector to its knees. [Due to their] impact on the environment, the production potential on farms is clearly decreasing, while production costs are being pushed up.

“While the Namibian agriculture sector is committed to the conservation of all animal species, and elephants in particular, a balance between nature and agriculture must be found and maintained,” he said.

According to a 2021 report published by the Conservation Frontlines organisation, the cost of repairing damage to infrastructure caused by elephants had reached record levels.

An estimated 180 freehold farms had to date been affected by this damage. For example, the cost of fixing a single windmill damaged by elephants could amount to between R29 998 and R51 000, the report said.

Gouws explained that one elephant’s daily intake of food and water also equalled that of 30 cattle.

“Given the past four years’ drought in our country it goes without saying that the competition between livestock and elephants for food and water has had a serious impact on the long-term sustainability and profitability of livestock production,” he added.

According to the statement, NAU and the Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) had for many years been trying their utmost to be part of a solution.

However, organised agriculture’s suggestions, plans and proposals had so far largely been ignored by the state, the statement added.

“It seems as if government officials can simply not grasp the degree and extent of the damage caused by elephants […].

“The threat posed to our animal health status and international beef exports [due to] border fences broken by elephants, and their continuous breaching of the veterinary cordon fence is too ghastly to contemplate,” Gouws added.

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Annelie Coleman represents Farmer’s Weekly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape. Agriculture is in her blood. She grew up on a maize farm in the Wesselsbron district where her brother is still continuing with the family business. Annelie is passionate about the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly interested in beef cattle farming, especially with the indigenous African breeds. She’s an avid reader and owns a comprehensive collection of Africana covering hunting in colonial Africa, missionary history of same period, as well as Rhodesian literature.