Giving elephants room to roam without putting lives at risk

For many South Africans, elephants are a symbol of everything wild and wonderful about our country. But for the families living along the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, they can also represent sleepless nights, damaged crops and an uncertain future.

Recent flooding has disrupted traditional elephant movement routes, forcing some herds into neighbouring villages in search of food. Too often, these encounters end badly, with elephants being declared “problem animals” and destroyed.

That is why organisations like Elephants Alive are working tirelessly to find a better way.

Rather than reacting after damage has already been done, Elephants Alive uses innovative, non-lethal solutions to help people and elephants coexist. Their Elephant Shepherd teams guide animals away from crops, while community projects such as beehive fences, chilli deterrents and watchtowers help prevent conflict before it begins.

At the heart of that strategy is satellite tracking.

By fitting an elephant with a tracking collar, conservationists can monitor movement in real time, allowing teams to intervene before elephants reach nearby communities.

“Collaring elephants represents one of the first and most critical steps in our overall strategy.”

The challenge is that every collaring operation is expensive, with specialised equipment, veterinary support and helicopter time all contributing to the cost.

That’s where Hot Cares stepped in.

Thanks to a donation of R79,000, Hot Cares is funding a new satellite collar and veterinary costs, helping Elephants Alive continue one of South Africa’s most important conservation initiatives.

The impact reaches far beyond a single elephant. It means farming families have greater protection for their livelihoods. It means fewer dangerous encounters. And it means conservation teams can continue proving that coexistence is not only possible, but sustainable.

“This is not about a single elephant or a single collar. It’s about building a functional interface between a rapidly shifting landscape and the people who live within it.”

As Kruger National Park celebrates its centenary this year, this donation is a reminder that protecting South Africa’s wildlife also means protecting the communities who share the landscape with it.

Because when people and wildlife thrive together, everyone benefits.