Africa-Press – Namibia. A LARGE number of wild elephants have invaded parts of the Omusati Region in search of water and grazing.
The large mammals have already destroyed at least one borehole and a homestead in the Omakange and Otjorute areas, respectively.
Officials of the environment ministry are closely monitoring the situation to curtail any possible human-wildlife conflict.
Omusati governor, Erginus Endjala, said there is an influx of elephants, which are moving in herds of between 20 and 40 elephants, in search of water and grazing after wildfires destroyed large tracts of land used to feed wild animals.
Endjala added that the elephants mostly move at night and has urged communities living around the affected areas to not harm the large animals, but to rather report them to the nearest environment office.
“We have so far recorded zero fatalities, but it was established that the animals do not have sufficient water as the cylinder was stolen at the water pump where the elephants drink,” he said.
Namibia is home to about 24 000 elephants, majority of which roam freely and lead to occasional human-wildlife conflict.
