African Elephant

African elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth. Adult bulls can weigh up to 7,000 kilograms. They inhabit savannas, forests, bushlands and desert regions across much of sub-Saharan Africa. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), African elephants are classified as Endangered. Despite ongoing conservation efforts, their populations continue to decline. One of the greatest threats is poaching, driven largely by the continued demand for ivory. Around 20,000 African elephants are illegally killed every year. Habitat loss, expanding human populations, increasing land development and growing human-elephant conflict place additional pressure on wild elephant populations.

Across many parts of the world, expanding human settlements and increasing agricultural land use are leading to more frequent conflicts between people and wildlife. This is particularly true for elephants, which may enter villages and farmland while searching for water and food. In Namibia's arid desert regions, where prolonged droughts and severe water shortages are common, both people and wildlife face especially challenging living conditions.

Tierpark Berlin supports an elephant conservation project in northern Namibia dedicated to protecting the country's unique desert elephants. Together with the local conservation organisation EHRA (Elephant Human Relations Aid), communities receive training to better understand elephant behaviour and safely manage encounters with these animals. At the same time, practical measures are implemented to reduce conflicts between people and elephants. These include constructing protected water points, securing food storage and using natural deterrents such as flashing solar lights and chilli plants to keep elephants away from agricultural land. Through these efforts, Tierpark Berlin helps reduce human-elephant conflict and supports the long-term peaceful coexistence of people and elephants.