Jake Wall - Save the Elephants

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Aman

• A special report on the water situation in
  relation to elephants and people in the Gourma,
  Mali

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Mali Elephants

• 400 - 600 in number
• Isolated and northern most population in Africa
• Last population of Sahelian elephants in West
  Africa
• Desert dwelling and extremely rugged
• Live on edge of what is ecologically viable
• Valuable national heritage for Mali

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Mali Elephants
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Migration
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Survival Lakes

• Very few water sources exist by month of May,
  especially for females with young
• Difficult to quantify water extent but know it is
  very limited at end of dry season
• Survival of most of population is based on access
  to water and forest at Banzena
• Elephants know to stay away until necessary

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Banzena
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Survival Lakes

• In normal years Indaman West would have water
  until April and Indianatafane until May.
• Banzena always has water
• This year Indaman and Indianatafane will be dry
  by end of January
• Banzena could dry up by April or May
• Water is at same level it was in 1983 when the
  last major drought occurred and lake dried
  completely
• Rains wont come until June

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Quick bird Image (15-04-2007) Yellow track
(13-03-2007) Red track (08-01-2009)
Banzena
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Failed rains

• Uneven rainfall has prevented ground water refill
  of Banzena, Indaman or Indianatafane
• Rest of country has experienced high rainfall,
  even 60 km to North-West at Bambara Maounde
  (302mm in 2008 vs 287 mm in 2007)

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Human Populations

• Large human and livestock populations rely on
  Banzena for water
• This year is particularly bad because there were
  good rains to north meaning good pasture which
  will attract more people
• Massive pressure on Banzena leading to severe
  degradation of environment soil erosion, loss
  of forest and desertification

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Current Water Sources
2 diesel pumps are no longer working from old age
Forage at Banzena last used in 2001
2nd Forage at Banzena last used in 2001
Potable water well at Banzena is deteriorating
from unknown causes
Forage at Indaman never used
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Immediate Problem

• To ensure adequate water supply for people and
  elephants
• To prevent human-elephant conflict by minimizing
  overlap if Banzena dries completely
• To reduce load on Banzena by distributing
  livestock and elephants over larger area

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Short-term urgent needs

• Verify operation of 2 forages at Banzena
• Purchase new solar pumps for their operation and
  build secure areas for housing them (administered
  by Bambara-Maounde)
• Verify operation of forage at Indaman West
• Purchase solar pump and provide protection
  (Administered by Indianatafane)
• Dig one new forage at Mar Mar and purchase solar
  pump (administered by Indianatafane)
• Dig 2 new wells for herders away from Banzena
• One backup diesel pump
• Close monitoring of situation

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Longer-term problems

• Volume of livestock/people in Gourma
• Soil erosion from overgrazing
• Settlements within areas heavily used by
  elephants
• Deforestation
• Climate change and drying of Sahel
• Unmanaged tourism
• Connectivity within the elephant range

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Exclusion zone south of Bambara-Maounde
illustrating the impact of livestock.
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Summary

• Verification by experts of 3 forages
• Purchase of 4 new solar pumps
• Dig one new Forage for elephants (Mar Mar)
• Dig two new wells for people north and south of
  Banzena, outside of Conservation Area
• One backup diesel pump
• Continued and close monitoring of current water
  situation
• Management plan for people and elephants at
  Banzena and other Survival lakes including
  connectivity amongst regions
• Establishment of effective conservation areas and
  eco-tourism as revenue for DNCN and local
  community
• Long term environmental monitoring of soil
  erosion, water levels, rainfall and climate
  patterns, forest cover, livestock numbers,
  elephant numbers and spatial distribution