Animal attacks have killed nearly 200 people in Mozambique since 2019.

Since 2019, around 200 people have died in Mozambique from attacks by animals such as elephants and crocodiles, according to data released this Saturday by the National Administration of Nature Reserves (ANAC).

Wildlife attacks in Mozambique have also destroyed a total of 955 hectares of crops such as maize and cassava between 2019 and 2023, according to ANAC’s new director general Pezhul Kalenga, who took office this week.

Problems caused by the elephant, according to ANAC, occur mainly in the provinces of Maputo, Manica, Sofala, Nampula and Niassa. The effects of the crocodile and hippopotamus are being felt in the provinces of Tete, Sofala and Manica, but authorities continue to report problems with hyenas and buffalo in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Sofala.

ANAC is exploring the possibility of moving animals to other areas and strengthening fences or culling problem animals, among other measures.

The problems, which also arise in Maputo National Park, which has been in decline for several years but where elephants have fully recovered to around 500 animals, are causing conflicts with the population and calling into question the introduction of contraception.

“Excess can be a problem. We’re about to do this elephant assessment (…) and it’s already starting to have a major impact on the vegetation, which will therefore have an impact on various populations, including elephants. “Miguel Goncalves, administrator of Maputo National Park, about 70 kilometers south of Mozambique’s capital, told Lusa on April 15.

Officially, the regularly scheduled population census lists 400 elephants in the park, but a technical team estimates there are actually just over 500, which will lead to a review of counting methods and determination of elephant numbers in the coming months. plan for the conservation of this species in Maputo National Park.

“This assessment will then lead to us having a specific elephant management plan. “It could include things like, for example, contraception, to reduce the birth rate so that growth is not as great as it is now, and movement, if possible, in other areas, among other measures,” he explained. indicating completion of the definition of this plan within three months.

“We have a concept, we want to get more specific numbers, but we are already on the ground to see the possibility of contraception. But we want to have concrete numbers so that we know exactly what investments we need to make, what financing we need. get it, because these are not cheap operations and we need to know exactly what we are dealing with,” he suggested.

The presence of elephants in the area is historic, leading to the creation of a game reserve in 1932. Previously, elephants in this area were hunted for ivory, which, according to history, was then sent to Europe, especially to England, from the Portuguese island near Maputo, which was called Elefante Island for this reason.

During the 16 years of civil war following Mozambique’s independence, the elephant population in the area declined so much that it is estimated to have reached “fewer than a hundred.”

“But thanks to the protections we put in place and enforcement efforts, the elephant population has naturally grown to the point where we moved over 40 elephants in 2022/2023. Now we are able to achieve success and can donate to other protected areas,” emphasized Miguel Gonçalves.