By Abubakar Kanjoka

Kasungu, February 2, Mana: Chiefs surrounding Kasungu National Park say government’s move of transferring 265 elephants from Liwonde National Park to Kasungu National Park in 2021 has restored the park’s glory which was at a record low a few years ago.

Speaking at a press conference in Kasungu on Thursday, the nine chiefs, led by Senior Chief Lukwa said contrary to some international media reports that the translocated animals have caused more harm to the villages than good, they are benefiting more from the park.

The press conference was organised in the wake of an article which appeared on a German online media outlet claiming that government, through the Department of Parks and Wildlife, is doing nothing to protect communities along the eastern park boundary.

Lukwa, who is also patron for Kasungu National Park, said the translocation exercise has greatly improved animal sightings in the park hence attracting more tourists to the district.

He said: “With support from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), government is constructing a perimeter fence which will cover the eastern park border to prevent animals from crossing their boundaries to disturb the communities.

“There are also other interventions including community sensitisation meetings, climate smart agriculture initiatives and many more – all meant to ensure that there is coexistence between animals and the surrounding communities by ensuring that both parties stay in their designated areas.”

He said there is a cordial relationship between park authorities and the surrounding communities as they work together in the management of the park.

Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Joseph Nkosi, commended partners such as Ifaw for the role they are playing in sustaining the park.

He said there are many interventions that have been put in place to economically empower the communities so that they reduce their reliance on the park as a source of their livelihood.

“The introduction of bee keeping as well as the goat pass on project by our partners will surely restrain people from invading the park,” said Nkosi.

Apart from constructing the perimeter fence and coming up with livelihood projects, the Department of Parks and Wildlife has also trained more rangers to be deployed in the park as one way of reducing the human conflict in which elephants have been eating crops and destroying houses at Chulu area.