Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka [email protected]
ZIMBABWE has reaffirmed its commitment to science-based elephant conservation, sustainable wildlife management and community-centred approaches as the country joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Elephant Day on Wednesday.
With an estimated elephant population of about 100 000, Zimbabwe is home to one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, making the sustainable management of the country’s elephant herds critical to biodiversity conservation, tourism and the livelihoods of communities living alongside wildlife.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) said the country was strengthening efforts to ensure the long-term survival of elephants through evidence-based conservation measures, including ecological monitoring, habitat protection, anti-poaching operations and measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
The conservation efforts are being guided by the Zimbabwe Elephant Management Plan (2026-2036), which provides a framework for the sustainable management of the country’s elephant population over the next decade.
Under the plan, ZimParks is implementing aerial and ground population surveys, ecological monitoring, wildlife disease surveillance, habitat management, anti-poaching operations and targeted research to generate scientific evidence for conservation and management decisions.
ZimParks Director General Professor Edson Gandiwa said elephants played a critical role in maintaining ecological balance while contributing significantly to tourism and rural livelihoods.
“Elephants are central to biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, tourism, and rural livelihoods.
“Their conservation requires continued collaboration among Government, communities, conservation partners, the private sector, and the global community,” said Prof Gandiwa.
Zimbabwe’s approach comes against the background of increasing pressure on wildlife habitats and the challenges faced by communities living close to protected areas.
Human-elephant conflict remains one of the major challenges confronting wildlife conservation, particularly in areas where communities share landscapes with large and mobile elephant populations.
ZimParks said science and continuous monitoring were therefore critical in developing appropriate interventions that promote coexistence between people and wildlife while ensuring the sustainability of elephant populations.
The authority is also strengthening partnerships with local communities and conservation stakeholders, recognising that wildlife conservation cannot be sustained without the participation and support of communities living alongside protected areas.
At regional level, Zimbabwe continues to participate in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), which promotes cooperation among countries sharing the vast wildlife landscape.
The transfrontier conservation area is particularly important for elephants because the animals move across national boundaries in search of food, water and suitable habitats.
Through KAZA TFCA, Zimbabwe is working with neighbouring countries to promote landscape connectivity and coordinated approaches to the management of wide-ranging wildlife populations.
ZimParks said transboundary cooperation was essential in ensuring that conservation efforts extended beyond national borders and reflected the natural movement patterns of elephants.
As Zimbabwe commemorates World Elephant Day, the country is also calling for greater cooperation among Government, communities, conservation organisations, the private sector and international partners to safeguard elephant populations and their habitats.
The day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of elephants while highlighting the need for practical conservation measures that balance wildlife protection with the needs of communities.
ZimParks said the ultimate goal was to ensure that elephant conservation delivered lasting benefits to both people and nature while securing the survival of the species for future generations.
