Elephants from Virunga National Park are devastating agricultural fields in the Ruwenzori sector, a worrying situation denounced by the New Civil Society of Beni Territory (North Kivu). For two weeks, the local population has been complaining about the destruction caused by these pachyderms, thus requesting the intervention of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) in order to protect their crops.
The New Civil Society of Beni asks ICCN to reinforce the protection measures of the fields by repelling the elephants, because it is impossible to put up electric wires to prevent them from entering. Meleki Mulala, coordinator of the organization, pleaded in favor of the peasants with the officials of the ICCN, stressing the urgency of forming teams to repel these devastating elephants.
This situation highlights the challenges faced by local communities who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Not only do they have to deal with the vagaries of the weather, but also the presence of wild animals that damage their crops. It is essential that the competent authorities take adequate measures to reconcile the protection of wildlife with the needs of farmers.
ICCN, as an agency responsible for nature conservation, has a crucial role to play in solving this problem. It is essential that it works closely with local communities to find sustainable solutions that both protect biodiversity and guarantee food security for populations.
This may involve setting up buffer zones between agricultural areas and natural elephant habitats, installing appropriate fences, or raising awareness among farmers of the behavior to adopt in the event of encounters with wild animals. Compensation programs for farmers affected by elephant damage could also be considered.
It is important that this issue is taken seriously and that concrete measures are taken to protect the livelihoods of local communities while preserving the natural wealth of the region. Harmonious cohabitation between humans and wildlife is possible, provided that efforts are made on both sides to find balanced and sustainable solutions