Four elephants spotted just 70km from Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

BOTSWANA – Four elephants have been spotted roaming near the Zutshwa area in Botswana’s Kgalagadi region, bringing these iconic animals within just 70 kilometres of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

South African National Parks (SANParks) confirmed the sighting on 23 October, following reports from Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP). The DWNP serves as SANParks’ conservation partner in the cross-border management of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

This marks the closest elephants have approached the park in nearly a decade. The last recorded sighting dates back to 2015, when a small group briefly ventured into the area before moving on.

Whilst the open landscape of the Kalahari is not traditional elephant habitat, the movement of these animals could signal shifting migration patterns or an expanding range for elephants in southern Botswana.

• Park visitors are encouraged to remain alert for possible sightings and to share photographs or location details with officials at the nearest camp.
• Alternatively, images and location information can be sent directly to park manager Frans van Rooyen at frans.vanrooyen@sanparks.org.
• SANParks has urged guests to adhere to normal park regulations and not to exit their vehicles or approach the animals when sighted.

Elephants not commonly seen in central Botswana

Northern Botswana, particularly the Chobe National Park, is home to the world’s largest elephant population and provides ideal habitat for elephant cows and calves.

Although elephants are not commonly seen in central Botswana, recent years have witnessed some herds exploring territory in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

According to elephantswithoutborders.org, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is not traditionally part of the elephant range. In 2017, Elephants Without Borders used monitoring collars on elephant bulls to discover more elephants, including breeding herds, in previously uncommon elephant territory.

ALSO READ: Knysna elephant: Elusive forest giant captured on camera

The organisation encountered elephants on cattle farms and villages around the Central Kalahari Game Reserve that had previously been elephant-free.

The south-western border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is relatively close to the Zutshwa area, where the four elephants have been spotted.