As the sun rises over Malawi, Rodwell Chalilima looks out at his trampled field of maize, the chaos left behind illuminated by long shadows.
For Chalilima and other villagers, nightly raids by large elephant herds, numbering up to 200, have become a common and unstoppable occurrence since a major elephant relocation three years prior.
This conservation initiative, which moved 263 elephants to the park with the help of NGOs like IFAW, has ironically created a living nightmare for communities bordering the park in both Malawi and Zambia.
The lack of adequate fencing is blamed for allowing these animals to enter human settlements, destroying crops and property, and tragically leading to at least 12 deaths.
Consequently, affected families are pursuing legal action in the UK against IFAW, seeking millions in compensation and demanding preventative measures like proper fencing.
They argue the relocation was based on a flawed and unrealistic idea of human-wildlife coexistence.
While IFAW maintains its role was merely supportive, and the Malawi government cites progress in fence construction and offers case-by-case assistance, community leaders like Kaston Nyirenda recount significant losses, including lives and homes, emphasising that conservation efforts should not come at such a high human cost.
