THE MAWANA ELEPHANTS by Lion Expose - March 26, 2024
Mawane reserve, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Good News, and sadness and sympathy...
After all we have been through trying to protect this persecuted
herd, prevent them from being culled, and mostly, get help to protect the
communities that live with them.
Extensive networking skills and an ever developing circle of
incredible humans in the specialised field of Elephant and Rhino, whether it be
translocations or educating on coexistence in our rural areas, has had some
real success..
The Good News
In a few short weeks LionExpose has received much support and
interest to try and assist the Mawana Elephants.
The first stages are being discussed and would see the collaring
of three Elephant bulls.
Between several people and two Global NPOS this seems to hold
real possibilities.
A next step will be more, but talks to the three communities
affected and with Farmer Sithole to start looking at the community fences and
where to start to protect their crops and cattle when the elephants come to
their farms as part of their Migratory route.
And later possibly a bee fence project which will be offered,
and again will need a sponsor, but this will attract researchers as there are
literally two PGRS in South Africa doing this and the Bee Fence Researchers
will love to come and study this project.
So we are hoping all goes to plan and that Mawana manage these
issues as they need to be working really hard to keep these Elephants safe in
their range and keep the communities safe and show them care, and be grateful
communities will be happy to try and exist with this wonderful herd and see how
we can make it sustainable.
Thanks go to EKZN for being patient and clearly communicating
with Mawana and thank you Sithole for being open to lots of communication in
this regard.
The sad news.
A young herder was badly injured last week fetching his cows, he
was gored by an elephant, he was really in trauma and is in hospital, and right
now he is doing better but has many months of recovery ahead - he was extremely
lucky to survive.
Mawanas people are visiting him in hospital tomorrow to show him
we will offer him support, and a fund will be started for him.
He will be supported all the way.
It must be noted that Mawanas Elephants have been facing extreme
danger of a cull since 2018 and are still in danger as long as all these issues
exist.
But elephant lovers keep watching and supporting how much work
it is to save elephants that live close to humans and to give them the peace
they deserve and, vitally, to keep our humans safe.
Update
The herd have wondered back into the "Red Area", close to where communities are situated. Tribal leaders are calling for them to be hunted down immediately!!
Toronto, April 4th 2004 – Toronto based MojoStreaming, a leading platform for impactful storytelling and urgent wildlife issues, today draws international attention to a critical wildlife conservation
emergency unfolding in South Africa. Within the next week, an innocent herd of
40 elephants, including vulnerable calves, faces the threat of imminent
slaughter unless immediate intervention occurs. This potential tragedy
highlights the broader, ongoing crisis of elephant culling practices in Africa,
threatening the survival of these majestic creatures classified as endangered
species.
In an urgent cry for help and to spark a global
public awareness campaign, MojoStreaming urges individuals, organizations, and
governments worldwide to take immediate action to prevent the senseless killing
of these 40 elephants from the Mawana Game reserve in Northern Natal. This
situation is not isolated; it symbolizes a much larger emergency affecting
thousands of elephants across the continent, where culling has become a
contentious method of population control.
Elephants, known for their intelligence, complex
social structures, and significant ecological impact, are increasingly finding
themselves in conflict with human interests. While the challenges of
cohabitation between humans and elephants in areas of dense population are
acknowledged, MojoStreaming emphasizes that culling is not the answer.
There are humane and effective alternatives to
managing elephant populations that do not involve slaughter, such as
translocation and the creation of wildlife corridors to allow safe migration.
MojoStreaming calls on its global audience,
conservationists, policymakers, and the international community to rally
together in defense of these 40 elephants and the thousands more at risk. This
is a pivotal moment to advocate for sustainable wildlife management practices
that respect the intrinsic value of all life forms and ensure the survival of
one of the planet's most iconic species.
As part of this urgent awareness campaign, MojoStreaming
will be hosting a series of special programming, interviews with wildlife
experts and all stakeholders in the Mawana saga, as well as exclusive content
focusing on the plight of Africa's elephants and the conservation efforts
underway to protect them. Viewers will gain insight into the complex issues
surrounding elephant conservation and learn how they can contribute to making a
difference.
The imminent threat to these 40 elephants is a
wake-up call to the world about the broader crisis facing Africa's elephant
populations. It's time for a collective, global response to end the senseless
culling of endangered species and to work together towards solutions that allow
humans and wildlife to coexist in harmony.
For more information on how you can help and to
learn more about the conservation efforts, please visit www.mojostreaming.com.
MojoStreaming President Bernard van Speyk is
initiating an effort to bring all the Mawana interest groups together to hammer
out a solution where community safety issues are implemented firstly, and then
alternative non-lethal methods are used to assist the well being of the herd.
Together, we can make a difference. Together, we
can save these elephants from slaughter and work towards a future where human
actions contribute to the preservation, not the destruction, of our planet's
wildlife.
About MojoStreaming
MojoStreaming is a global platform dedicated to
bringing the world's most pressing social, environmental, and political issues
to the forefront through powerful storytelling and documentary filmmaking.
Committed to making a difference, MojoStreaming provides a voice to the
voiceless and shines a light on the stories that matter.
For more information, contact:
Bernard Van Speyk
Founder & President
MojoStreaming Ltd.
[Contact Information]
bernard@mojostreaming.com
+1 416 788 0144
