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Elephant collaring to help reduce human-elephant conflict in Malawi – EnviroNews
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Elephant collaring is expected to help wildlife authorities track elephant movements and prevent conflicts with communities surrounding Kasungu National Park in Malawi, says Simon Itaye, Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism.
Itaye made the remarks on Oct. 8, 2026, at Kasungu National Park after witnessing the collaring and de-collaring of elephants during the 2026 Joint Ecological Monitoring Exercise.
He said the technology enables wildlife authorities to establish the locations of elephants and monitor their movements, helping them anticipate potential incursions into surrounding communities and take preventive measures.
Human-elephant conflict has been a concern for communities living near the park, where monitoring elephant movements can help authorities respond to potential encounters between wildlife and people.
Cross-Border Wildlife Monitoring
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Country Director Bruce Sosola said the collaring exercise resulted from a treaty signed between Malawi and Zambia in 2015.
He said tracking elephants as they move between the two countries would strengthen wildlife monitoring and support efforts to combat poaching.
Sosola noted that elephants move across national borders without regard for political boundaries, making cross-border cooperation important for their conservation and protection.
The monitoring exercise provides an opportunity for wildlife authorities and conservation partners to better understand elephant movements across the shared landscape.
Research On Translocated Elephants
Dr. Robert Guldemond, who is leading the University of Pretoria’s Conservation Ecology Research Unit team conducting the exercise, said collaring and de-collaring provide an opportunity to understand the movements of translocated elephants.
The information gathered can help researchers examine how the animals move after relocation and contribute to decisions on wildlife monitoring and management.
Germany’s Ambassador to Malawi, Ute König, said human-elephant conflict around Kasungu National Park had been a concern in the past.
She highlighted the importance of collaring and de-collaring in improving elephant monitoring and helping protect communities living around the park.
The exercise brings together government officials, conservation organisations and researchers in efforts to improve wildlife monitoring and address the challenges associated with elephants moving near human settlements.
While collaring provides information on elephant locations and movements, its contribution to reducing conflict depends on how effectively that information is used to anticipate risks and support preventive action.
For communities surrounding Kasungu National Park, improved monitoring could help authorities identify potential threats earlier and take measures to reduce encounters between people and elephants.
By Chimwemwe Topola, AfricaBrief