The decision, to use a free version of the phrase that had its origins in the 17th century, protects “two elephants with one stone,” as the relocated ones were wreaking havoc in their original home.

The increase in the population of elephants in Malawi is the result of the official policy of cracking down on hunters, whose actions endanger the species in this landlocked southeast African country.

The protection was so effective that the number of specimens grew substantially, up to the point that they began invading urban areas to meet their need for food, between 100 and 220 kilograms of vegetation per day.

If we add to this the fact that “maidens” begin to bein heat at the age of 14 and do not stop until they are 50 years old, it’s easy to conclude that there was a problem that needed to be solved and quickly.

Amid this crisis, authorities saw the skies open up when they remembered that there were merely 50 elephants left in the Kasungu reserve of the 1,200 that roamed the area half a century ago, due to the slaughters for ivory, the price of which reaches skyrocketing levels on the black market.

The transfer from Liwonde to Kasungu was brief and the mammals with huge ears will start their lives again with free access to as much food as they want and without restrictions for love, which is always a good thing.

Taken from Orbe weekly

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