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Ellies tickled BLUE with home
08/10/2008 12:03 - (SA)
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| An elephant explores her new home at the Blue Canyon Game Conservancy near Hoedspruit, Mpumalanga. (Trevor Kolk, Jordan Properties) |
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Birgit Ottermann
Cape Town - A family of nine elephants has found a new home at the Blue Canyon Game Conservancy near Hoedspruit, Mpumalanga - an area where these majestic beasts used to roam freely, before it was converted into farmland.
The African elephants were captured from the Sabi Sands region by wildlife entrepreneur Trevor Jordan and renowned wildlife veterinarian, Dr Douw Grobler; and transported and released into the Blue Canyon Conservancy on Saturday.
"Dr Grobler and his team identified a group of nine elephants early on Saturday morning and we managed to successfully capture them - a matriarch plus seven young females and one young male," Jordan told News24 on Tuesday.
"We will be going back to catch a dominant bull within the next two months as soon as the herd has settled into its new home," Jordan added.
Lion pride and buffalo herd
According to Jordan the elephants have joined the already present leopard and rhino in the conservancy.
"We will also be adding a lion pride within the next six weeks and a buffalo herd within the next 12 months, to secure the Big Five in this area," he told News24.
The Blue Canyon Game Conservancy is the brainchild of Jordan who in 2007, together with his neighbours convinced a number of other private properties to join together to create a new environment in the Hoedspruit area for the Big Five to roam freely.
The conservation project consists of 15 000 hectares of land fitting neatly between the Greater Kruger National park and the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.
Conservation ethics
"The aim in establishing the Blue Canyon Game Conservancy was not only to open up new ground for elephant herds so that we could play a role in averting the need for active elephant population management in overstocked reserves, but also to ensure that we balance economic development with the conservation ethics, requirements and the beauty of this area for generations to come," Jordan explained.
A pioneer behind such commercial wildlife conservancy concepts as the game reserve share block schemes and wildlife estates, Jordan is well positioned to ensure the success of this new undertaking.
Originally the Blue Canyon Conservancy area in Hoedspruit was proclaimed a gaming area in the 1980s. However, soon after, the area was used for cattle farming.
This was not sustainable nor viable as one needs bio-diversity and cattle generally was overstocked which led to overgrazing. This in turn led to erosion and bush encroachment of indigenous pioneer species.
"The creation of a game conservancy has generated far more work for local communities, transference of skill, job creation, thousands of foreign visitors, and more hospitality," Jordan explained to News24.
'Man and environment can co-exist'
"The overall economic value has increased substantially in this area and Blue Canyon Conservancy is just another example of how man and his environment can co-exist."
"I believe that every developer has a responsibility to the land and the people who live upon it. A responsibility to ensure that the vision the land inspired is brought to life, no matter how difficult or time consuming," said Jordan.
"Passion helps you see the 'big five' roaming free, where only cattle and fences existed. It allows you to succeed where others fail.
"I'm simply pleased that my team has opened up more affordable land for the introduction of truly astounding African animals who will bring both spiritual and fiscal wealth to the community of Hoedspruit," Jordan told News24.
The conservancy is not entirely open yet to the public, as lodges are still being built within the next two years.
However, interested parties can take game drives into the conservancy from the nearby Raptors View Wildlife Estate. For more information click here.
Check out our photo gallery of the elephants' relocation.
- News24
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