The Ivory Foundation provided support to the NGO Peace Parks Foundation in a project aimed at preventing conflicts between human communities and elephants in Mozambique.
The project focuses on Maputo National Park, which covers approximately 1,700 km² and is an essential part of the Transboundary Conservation and Management Area. This area connects the reserve to the Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa through the Futi Corridor. The park also encompasses the Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay Transboundary Conservation Area, which is connected to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Originally established in 1960 with the aim of protecting the elephant population in the region, the Elephant Special Reserve was renamed “Reserva Especial do Maputo” in 1969 to highlight its conservation status, encompassing other species besides elephants.
Despite the challenges posed by the civil war, the resident elephant population in the Maputo Special Reserve has managed to survive and thrive. The latest census reveals a population of over 400 elephants, feeding in large herds in the floodplains or exploring the dense dune forests.
In collaboration with the NGO STEP, The Ivory Foundation has designed a booklet for preventing human-elephant conflicts. This booklet was reviewed by the Peace Parks Foundation and illustrated and adapted to the specific context of the “Reserva Especial do Maputo.” It was then distributed to villagers residing in the elephant corridors or habitats.
This conflict prevention project is of crucial importance to ensure peaceful coexistence between local communities and elephants, thereby preserving the biodiversity of the region while allowing human populations to thrive.