Elephant menace at Otjiserandu - by Magreth Nunuhe

From The New Era

WINDHOEK — Residents of Otjiserandu near Gam are living in fear after spotting three elephants near their homes.

Ngunazo Marenga narrated that an elephant calf was seen among goats following them wherever they grazed.

Apparently, another resident also saw an adult elephant with its offspring at the village.

They suspect that more wild elephants are in the area.
“We are afraid to move out of our yards,” said Marenga, adding that they spoke to the Wildlife office but were told that the elephants would not do anything.
Korokuee Hange, vice treasurer of the Ondjou Conservancy said they received complaints from the residents and would hold meetings with the people.

He said if the elephants become dangerous, one way of resolving the problem is to scare them away by shooting in the air.

“It’s not the first time elephants come to the area. They normally come to drink water from the big water point,” he said.
Hange said elephants previously damaged a water well, but have never destroyed any other property.
Close to 700 people live at Otjiserandu.

Call Karl.