On 31st March, a number of elephants were reported outside the boundary of Ithala Game Reserve, moving and grazing through community lands. Helicopter support was requested by Ithala Game Reserve & Ezemvelo to help push the elephants back into Ithala game reserve.
The report was of 2 collared animals towards the east about 5km north of the reserve boundary on the Mozane river, and one collared animal outside the western boundary on the Bivane river.
The helicopter located the roaming elephants in the east. There were between 60 and 70 elephants in numerous herd groups as well as a large bull. They were pushed +- 10km south, crossing the Pongola River until they were back inside the reserve.
The helicopter then went to the west and found a group of 7 bulls approx. 2km west of the reserve boundary on the Bivane river. They were pushed east back inside the reserve boundary.
A total of 6,3 hours were flown. Helicopter hours were funded by Wild Wonderful World Flying for Conservation Fund.
Ithala Game Reserve situated in 290 km2 of mountainous thornveld, 400 km north of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The altitude varies considerably from 400 m along the Phongolo River to 1,450 m along the Ngotshe Mountain escarpment. The reserve encompasses a wide variation of terrain, from densely vegetated river valleys and lowveld to high-lying grassland plateaus, mountain ridges and cliff faces. Ithala is home to some of Africa’s premier game species such as elephant, buffalo and leopard, as well as both black and white rhino. The abundant giraffe is the icon for the game reserve.
A feature of Ithala Game Reserve is its geological and ecological diversity. This diversity has created a place of great, but rugged beauty, with 300 million year old rock formations.
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