Zimbabwe is beginning a project to collar and track female elephants in Hwange National Park to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. The initiative is designed to monitor elephant herd movements as they often damage crops and pose risks to local communities.
Led by Zimparks and IFAW, the program will track eight matriarchs using GPS collars. This will help gather data on how elephants interact with areas outside the park, which are increasingly populated by humans.
Hwange, home to about half of Zimbabwe’s 100,000 elephants, has matriarchal herds led by dominant females. These elephants play a key role in guiding herd movements, making them essential to the program.
Nearby communities face growing risks from elephants, with some villages imposing curfews to avoid encounters. Elephants have become bolder, especially at night, creating safety concerns.
Tracking the matriarchs will help authorities create strategies to prevent conflicts, such as wildlife corridors or early warning systems. The project aims to balance conservation efforts with community safety in Zimbabwe’s wildlife-rich areas.
