EWB has created a human-elephant conflict mitigation demonstration plot, located at the Mllazie nursery in Kazungula. Mma Mllazie’s site is readily located for anyone interested in learning about different mitigations that EWB has been using to assist farmers and community plots from elephants. Visitors are also welcome to discuss with the Mllazie family and learn the pros and cons of each deterrent.
The site displays three different mitigations; solar powered electric rope, solar powered strobe lights and a motion detected alarm. This electric rope provides high voltage output in a single strand, that is placed around the periphery of the plot. EWB provides the equipment and training of how the system works. It is a simple, sustainable, solar driven, cost effective electric mitigation. 
The strobe lights flash all different colours through out the evening. They too, are solar run and placed at 10 metre intervals along the side of the fields where elephant mostly commonly approach from. They appear at night as a “barrier” with the strobe flashing. We have been using this mitigation for 3 years in the Chobe enclave and have had great success with farmers in smaller fields, when used in the appropriate way.
The motion detection alarm is set facing out, again towards the side expected that elephants would approach from. The alarm is triggered when an elephant is within 8 to 30 meters of the fenceline, a warning alarm and flashing light are triggered. The alarm also has a remote so the farmer can trigger the alarm from afar.
We try and make the deterrents as sustainable, solar-powered, cost effective and user friendly as possible. If interested, please contact us at +267 625-0202 or info@elephantswithoutborders.org to enquire or make an appointment if one needs an assessment to protect a field/garden. We can provide suggestions for the most suitable mitigation strategy to use, based on field size, budget and preference of use. Learn more about our Conflict & Coexistence projects!