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Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science

🐘💥 The Elephant Translocation Disaster

Published 7 days ago • 2 min read

Conservation and Science

This issue of the newsletter is slightly late. Life throws things of varied priorities at us and even though publishing this newsletter is pretty high on my priorities list, some things rank even higher. Right, enough of the excuses - let's get on with this week's topic.

Many environmental NGOs are facing an uphill battle in the current political climate, and I'm definitely not one to have a go at e-NGOs, many of which are doing an excellent job. However, that doesn't mean giving them all a free pass when they mess up. Especially when we're not talking about an NGO run on a shoestring budget, but about a global, corporate-sized NGO. In fact, in cases like this, you've got to wonder about their true motivations.

This episode is accompanied by an article written by our most brilliant guest, as well as a few other pieces on the subject we're discussing this time around. As always, I aim to provide you with additional resources so you can continue to explore the topic we discussed in the podcast. Enjoy, and as always, reply to this email to share your comments and opinions with me and our guest. Finally, if you know someone who would enjoy this episode and the topic we're taking on here, please forward this email.

The Elephant Translocation Disaster

How does a wealthy animal welfare organisation, funded by well-meaning donors from Europe and North America, end up relocating hundreds of elephants to an area where some of the world's poorest people live? What happens when two people are killed within 24 hours of the first four elephants arriving, yet the organisation presses on with moving another 259 elephants in just 30 days? Why are over 12,500 people now living in terror whilst those responsible show nothing but arrogance when approached for help?

This episode examines a conservation crisis unfolding in Malawi and Zambia, where the International Fund for Animal Welfare's elephant translocation project has gone catastrophically wrong. Journalist Jens Ulrik Høgh returns from his recent trip to the region, where he documented the devastating impact on local communities who had never seen elephants before 2022. Twelve people have been killed, thousands have lost their crops and livelihoods, and children can no longer safely walk to school. Meanwhile, the elephants themselves are being killed in retaliation, making this a disaster for both wildlife and people.

The conversation explores uncomfortable questions about conservation imperialism, the business models of large NGOs, and the stark inequality between wealthy Western donors and the African communities bearing the consequences. Jens reveals how a project that cost less than $2 million has destroyed lives whilst the organisation continues to raise over $100 million annually. This isn't just about elephants - it's about power, money, and the ongoing legacy of colonial attitudes in modern conservation. The episode serves as a crucial reminder that conservation projects are doomed to fail without local acceptance, often with tragic consequences for all involved.

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Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science

Tommy Serafinski

I am an outdoorsman, podcaster and speaker. I talk and write about the natural environment, biodiversity, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding and more. I am particularly interested in wildlife and human-wildlife interactions. I enjoy reading scientific papers on those subjects as much as being outdoors weathering the elements and getting first-hand experiences.

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