Communities Sue IFAW Over Deadly Elephant Relocation Near Kasungu National Park

By Susan Chacko

(The author is the Information Manager in the Environment Resource Unit of theCentre for Science and Environment, New Delhi)

March, 2025 – THE Malawi-Zambia border Communities near Kasungu National Park have sued the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) over human and wildlife conflicts in the area following the relocation of elephants.

Residents living near Kasungu National Park, which straddles the Malawi-Zambia border, have begun legal proceedings against IFAW following the translocation of 263 elephants into the protected area.

Locals claim that the animals have so far 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.

Legal challenge

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.

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