An elephant bull is causing havoc and a lot of damage on Riaan Bornman’s farm ‘Delarey’ in the Hochfeld, about 200 kilometres north east of Windhoek. The area is not recognised as traditional ‘elephant country’,
Bornman, a well-known pharmacist in Swakopmund, told The Namibian that the elephant suddenly appeared and has since the beginning of March caused more than N$100 000 worth of damage to farm infrastructure, while also destroying mealie-lands and terrorising the people living on the farm.
“I am very frustrated, and the way I feel now I could shoot that animal. I have informed the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) and they said they first have to go out there and compile a report to know what to do. In the meantime I have to pay for the damage,” said a frustrated Bornman.
According to him, the visits from the bull started at the beginning of March, and after destroying about ten gates, ripping down fences, felling some trees and tearing through the mealie lands, it left for a few weeks, just to return last Thursday, when it began destroying water tanks and cattle posts.
“The farm workers called me today (Wednesday 26 March) to tell me that the animal is still there, and is plundering their gardens and the mealies. I have the best mealies I’ve ever had and now this elephant is helping itself to it. The people are scared. They don’t want to stay there anymore,” said Bornman.
This is the first time he has seen or experienced an elephant on the farm – an area he says is not known for being the natural habitat of elephants.
“People talk about an elephant that softly climbs over the fences from farm to farm, and that maybe this is him. I don’t think so, considering all the fences he’s torn down here. How long will this take before it stops”?” he asked. Colgar Sikopo, Director of Regional Services and Parks Management at MET told local paper that they were aware of Bornman’s concern and that there was a team dealing with the situation.
“We will be monitoring the situation. There are other farmers who also have noted the animal but who have not complained about problems. If it however persists in its destructive behaviour on this farm, we may have no other option but to destroy it,” said Sikopo.
He said that there was no elephant population in that area currently and guessed that it may have come from the Nyae Nyae Conservancy in Tsumkwe.
Bornman, a well-known pharmacist in Swakopmund, told The Namibian that the elephant suddenly appeared and has since the beginning of March caused more than N$100 000 worth of damage to farm infrastructure, while also destroying mealie-lands and terrorising the people living on the farm.
“I am very frustrated, and the way I feel now I could shoot that animal. I have informed the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) and they said they first have to go out there and compile a report to know what to do. In the meantime I have to pay for the damage,” said a frustrated Bornman.
According to him, the visits from the bull started at the beginning of March, and after destroying about ten gates, ripping down fences, felling some trees and tearing through the mealie lands, it left for a few weeks, just to return last Thursday, when it began destroying water tanks and cattle posts.
“The farm workers called me today (Wednesday 26 March) to tell me that the animal is still there, and is plundering their gardens and the mealies. I have the best mealies I’ve ever had and now this elephant is helping itself to it. The people are scared. They don’t want to stay there anymore,” said Bornman.
This is the first time he has seen or experienced an elephant on the farm – an area he says is not known for being the natural habitat of elephants.
“People talk about an elephant that softly climbs over the fences from farm to farm, and that maybe this is him. I don’t think so, considering all the fences he’s torn down here. How long will this take before it stops”?” he asked. Colgar Sikopo, Director of Regional Services and Parks Management at MET told local paper that they were aware of Bornman’s concern and that there was a team dealing with the situation.
“We will be monitoring the situation. There are other farmers who also have noted the animal but who have not complained about problems. If it however persists in its destructive behaviour on this farm, we may have no other option but to destroy it,” said Sikopo.
He said that there was no elephant population in that area currently and guessed that it may have come from the Nyae Nyae Conservancy in Tsumkwe.
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