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afrol.com, 22 September - Yesterday, another elephant family was released into the Kissama National Park, Angola. The elephants had been airlifted from South Africa, and after a short stay in an enclosure, where they had their veterinary check, they were released into freedom once again. The elephants were weekend successfully relocated from South Africa to Angola as part of a massive plan to re-introduce wildlife to the war-ravaged country. They were airlifted to Kissama National Park 70km outside Angola's capital Luanda, in an operation dubbed Operation Noah's Ark. This relocation is part of a large resettlement programme of several wildlife species, including giant sable and red buffalo, to Kissama over the next five years. The elephants were captured at the Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province. The park is situated in an area of Angola that has not been involved in the 25-year-long civil war there. Former soldiers have, however, been trained to guard the elephants in the reserve, and R2-million per year has been earmarked for the protection of the elephants. "I have no doubt for the safety of the elephants in the park. The number of guards employed will be just over two for every elephant in the park," said van Hoven, the spokesperson for the Kissama Foundation. He added: "This area is elephant paradise. I have no doubt that they will thrive here. People must remember that a few years ago there were about 4.000 elephants in this area."
Researchers from the University of Pretoria's Centre for Wildlife Management participated in formalising a viable ecological management plan for Quicama. A five year development plan for the Park has now been finalised. The Kissama Foundation is hoping to relocate about 300 elephants to the park by next year. The majority of these elephants will come from Botswana, which is battling with a population in excess of elephants.
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