The Elephants of Mali
The elephants in Mali are unique. They live in one of the harshest environments in the world, the arid Sahel and have one of the longest migrations routes of any elephants. They are the most northerly elephant herd in Africa – the last comparable herd went extinct in the 1980s. They are internationally recognized as a unique and important herd.
The arid Sahel has traditionally been a place for nomadic life-styles for both humans and elephants. The nomadic pastoralists who live in this extended area – primarily the Tuareg and Fulani (Puhl) tribes – have coexisted peacefully and in close proximity with these animals for centuries. The elephants have been integral part of the local culture.
The Elephant Range & Migration Route
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Throughout the whole Gourma region, trees and vegetation are stunted and small and wind and water erosion is only further destroying de-vegetated zones. Thus the elephants tend to choose to spend most of their time at the watering holes and drainage ways, maximizing their access to food and water.
The annual migration of a Malian elephant is vast – circumscribing an area of over 24,000 square kilometers. The elephants travel a route between the Niger river on the northern border and near the Burkina Faso/Mali border on the southern border. The migration is essential for the elephants to survive the environmental and climactic variations of the region.
The Population
The Gourma elephant herd has between 550 and 700 individuals and, the majority of the population is older with over 50% of the herd considered adults. Studies show high fertility but also high mortality in newborns and young elephants. Newborns and young are especially susceptible to environmental stresses, such as drought and increased human presence.
