The escalating incidents of elephant poaching around Jozini Dam, which resulted in a tourist cruise boat coming under gunfire on Wednesday, January 11, have prompted Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to embark on a plan to relocate the targeted herds by as soon as March this year.

Human-wildlife conflict between the estimated 69 elephants and community members on the eastern shores of the dam has triggered a poaching spree in recent months, during which at least 25 elephants have been killed.

The provincial tourism authority said the conflict could be traced back to 2015 when elephants first started roaming out of the privately owned Pongola Game Reserve East (PGRE) into the provincial Phongola Nature Reserve.

“The ongoing human-wildlife conflict in that area has contributed to the rise of elephant poaching incidents. Ezemvelo shall explore all possible solutions to resolve the issue,” the authority said in a press statement on January 19.

Ezemvelo said, following discussions with several conservation NGOs, including Conservation Solutions and the Aspinall Foundation, a decision had been taken to engage the PGRE to translocate the elephants back on to the property or into a suitable national or international protected area with adequate carrying capacity.

“The first batch will probably be translocated in March/April 2023 should the new protected areas be secured. It may take more than a year to translocate them outside of the country if no suitable space is available within the country,” the statement reads.

Ezemvelo Acting CEO, Siphesihle Mkhize, appealed to suitable protected areas to contact the tourism authority to offer the elephants a new home.

“The sooner the land issue for elephants is addressed, the better, as they are also animals that cause many human-wildlife conflicts. We will donate the elephants. We have already secured funding from our partners who have already committed to pay for the translocation to any protected area inside or outside of South Africa,” said Mkhize.

Ezemvelo said it had also engaged with the local community through the traditional authority to discuss the recent human-wildlife conflict.

“These ongoing engagements also involve various South African Police Service units like the SAPS Water Wing and the National Intervention Unit, who have indicated their willingness to provide law and order.”

Sisulu condemns shooting

Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu condemned the cruise boat shooting incident, describing it as an “attack on the country’s economy”. 

“South Africa and KZN are safe destinations for tourists, and incidents like these impact negatively on the reputation of our valuable tourism industry. We are working with law enforcement and other agencies to ensure the safety of tourists in the country,” Sisulu said.

Democratic Alliance spokesperson for Environmental Affairs, Heinz de Boer, said the poaching was detrimentally affecting tourism in the area.“At this point the eastern shores of the dam are virtually a no-go area. Boat tourism in other areas of the dam continues but the brand and reputational damage to the area is extremely concerning.”

Tourism associations including SATSA and FEDHASA have also called for urgent intervention in what they described as an “outrageous” and “deeply concerning” incident.