
Residents living near Kasungu National Park, which straddles the Malawi-Zambia border, have begun legal proceedings against the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) following the translocation of 263 elephants into the protected area.
Locals claim that the animals have killed at least 12 people and left communities in constant fear for their safety and livelihoods.
The relocation was carried out in 2022 by Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in collaboration with African Parks and IFAW, aiming to restore balanced ecosystems, bolster elephant populations and support nearby communities.
On July 31, 2022, the operation concluded with the transfer of 263 elephants and 431 other animals from Liwonde National Park to Kasungu, Malawi’s second-largest national park and part of a transfrontier conservation area with Zambia.
Ten affected individuals from western Malawi and eastern Zambia, represented by UK law firm Leigh Day, are preparing a group lawsuit against IFAW. They allege the organisation failed to conduct proper risk assessments, implement adequate safeguards, or erect a sufficient boundary fence before the move, prioritising elephant welfare over human lives.
Since the translocation, elephants have repeatedly strayed into villages and farmland, causing fatalities, severe injuries, and widespread destruction. A 73-year-old Malawian farmer, one of the claimants, reported his rice fields being ravaged five times, reducing his harvest from 35 bags to nothing.
"Once elephants find food, they return. I fear they’ll keep coming back to my village," he said.
The NGO Warm Hearts estimates over 11,000 people have suffered crop loss, property damage, or personal harm, with financial losses running into millions of dollars. Leigh Day has formally notified IFAW’s UK, Zambian, and Malawian branches of its intent to file a case in the High Court of England and Wales.
Oliver Holland, a partner at Leigh Day, stated: "Our clients seek meaningful dialogue with IFAW to restore their lives. If this fails, legal action will address the devastation to livelihoods and loss of life. Elephant conservation must not come at the expense of local communities."
IFAW has rejected accusations of negligence, asserting in a June 4, 2024 statement that its role was solely to assist the Malawian government, which manages Kasungu National Park.
"IFAW does not oversee parks or make operational decisions," it said, adding that it collaborates with governments and communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict while promoting sustainable conservation.
The case highlights the tensions between wildlife preservation and human welfare, with affected communities demanding accountability for the consequences of conservation efforts.