Mali is a beautiful, landlocked desert country in North West Africa. Perhaps best known for its rich cultural diversity, Mali is also home to the northernmost herd of African elephants. One of the very last herd of elephants in the arid Sahel, this herd is also unique because of its annual migration – circumscribing an area of over 24,000 square kilometers, the herd has the longest recorded migration route of any elephants.
The nomadic pastoralists who live in this extended area – primarily the Tuareg and Fulani (Puhl) tribes – have coexisted peacefully and in close proximity with these animals for centuries. They graze and herd their cattle and goats in the same areas, and use the same waterholes. More than just tolerated, the elephants have been integral part of the local culture.
But times are changing. Agricultural development policies and subsidies are encouraging nomads to settle permanently near water points, and are generally encouraging the drilling of new wells for crop production. Intensifying land use in an arid system and increasing concentration of previously nomadic human populations around water points is leading to more human/wildlife conflicts. Without careful planning, these conflicts will likely worsen. Now is the time for a successful intervention.
Fortunately, conditions are very favourable for developing a strategy to protect these desert elephants. There is still considerable goodwill towards the elephants amongst local populations, there is strong interest in developing a conservation strategy from the highest levels of the Malian government, and development aid agencies have also indicated a willingness to coordinate agricultural development with conservation measures.
Dr. Susan Canney is leading our work to conserve the desert Elephants of Mali and their habitat.
