New Home, Renewed Ecosystem: Addo's Elephants Lead the Way in Conservation

Photo Credit: Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa

42 elephants have been safely translocated and given a new and sustainable place to call home within the Addo Elephant National Park, marking a hopeful step forward for conservation efforts in the Eastern Cape.

Gqeberha, South Africa (21 May 2025) – In an exciting win for conservation, South African National Parks (SANParks) has successfully translocated 42 elephants from Addo Elephant National Park’s (AENP) Main Camp to the newly secured Kabouga section.

This critical move is part of ongoing efforts to expand the Addo elephants’ range and restore ecological balance in one of South Africa’s most iconic and cherished conservation areas.

Conducted last week, the translocation was meticulously planned and executed by an expert team of conservationists, wildlife veterinarians and logistics specialists. Each stage was carried out with careful attention to animal welfare and ecological integrity.

Park Manager, Roland Januarie, shared that Addo, which is home to over 700 elephants, has a proud record of elephant conservation and maintains a healthy and secure population of one of Africa’s most iconic animal species.

“Translocation between sections of the park has been successfully carried out over many years based on the need to expand their range and to restore the original ancient elephant corridors. Looking forward, the consolidation of the neighbouring Kabouga and Darlington sections of the park is planned,” said Januarie.

Photo Credit: Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa

The Kabouga section, about 50km away by road from the Main Camp, offers a restored habitat where elephants can re-establish their ecological roles. Reintroducing elephants to this landscape is central to a broader conservation vision of repairing degraded ecosystems through species-led restoration.

By expanding the elephant range and establishing new, sustainable habitats, the translocation stands to contribute to long-term biodiversity health and the reactivation of natural ecosystem functions across the region.

The newly relocated elephants will be carefully monitored as they settle into their new environment, marking a hopeful step forward for conservation efforts in the Eastern Cape.

The Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa, an initiative of the Global Humane Society, provided much-needed support that enabled the successful implementation of this project.

“We at Global Humane Society are proud to support this critical restoration project and help ensure these elephants have the space they need to thrive”, said Dr Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of Global Humane Society.

“This effort will reactivate the natural systems that elephants help sustain as each step of this process is managed with precision and care, prioritising the welfare of the elephants and the delicate ecosystem at every stage.”

Elephants are widely recognised as ecosystem engineers – their presence transforms landscapes in ways that benefit a vast array of other species. From opening up thickets and dispersing seeds to creating water access points, their natural behaviours support biodiversity and rejuvenate ecological processes that have been dormant in areas where elephants have long been absent.