Nature conservation in a tight spot - elephants endanger baobab trees

Conservationists in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy in north-east Namibia are in a dilemma. They are protecting elephants, which are of crucial importance for biodiversity in this area.

But the pleasing success of their efforts also has unpleasant consequences: More and more baobab trees in the area are showing signs of severe damage caused by elephants. WWF Namibia reports on this dilemma in its latest newsletter.

Elephants and baobab trees benefit from each other. On the one hand, elephants contribute to the spread of the trees by eating their seeds and providing them with nutrients of their dung when they excrete.

On the other hand, the trees provide the elephants with important nutrients in the form of seeds and inner bark. During the dry season, they also serve as a source of water: elephants peel off the bark to access the water stored in the trunk.

Baobab trees can withstand occasional damage. However, if the extent and frequency of damage increases, this can lead to the death of the trees.

Shrinking habitats and increasing drought

The balance of give and take has been disturbed in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy area. WWF Namibia sees the reasons for this in the shrinking habitats of the elephants and the increasing periods and severeness of drought due to climate change.

The organization is currently funding fuel and equipment for large-scale aerial surveys in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy area. The aim is to determine the extent of the damage to the baobab trees.

At the same time, solutions to the problem are being discussed with the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) and the San community in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy.

Similar to water basins in Kaokoland, around baobab trees people pack rocks to make it more difficult for elephants to reach the trunks.

Elephant population management is also being considered. For example, elephants could be relocated in a controlled manner or additional water sources could be created. 

Sven-Eric Stender