Haramaya University in collaboration with the Ethiopian Wildlife Authority held a consultative forum in Harar on March 26, 2022 to save the Babel Elephant Sanctuary.
Various stakeholders including Stakeholders from Oromiya and Somali regions, members of the Federal Wildlife Conservation Authority, the Prime Minister’s Office and Jijiga University and Aba Geda have participated in the forum in which research papers were presented on the current situation of the Sanctuary and suggestions were given to be translated into practice to save the Elephants in the future.
According to Adem Mohammed, head of the Babile Elephant Sanctuary, the Babile Elephant Sanctuary established in 1963 had a population of 600 Elephants then, but now their number has declined to 300 Elephants. Currently, because of illegal settlements, deforestation and the expansion of agriculture, conflicts between Elephants and humans are now increasing and they are killing each other. The recent data indicated that in the past eight months, 11 Elephants have been killed by humans, and humans also have been killed by Elephants. The attributes to the illegal settlements, deforestation and the expansion of agriculture are; unsteadied investment licenses, corruption and malpractice have been cited as contributing factors, mentioned Mr. Adem.
Dr. Tesfaye Lema, Haramaya University Vice President for Research affairs, said, “The Babile Elephants are in danger of extinction due to manmade and natural factors, so we have prepared this platform as a University to do our part. Now is not the time to ignore the fact that the Babile Elephants are between life and death; there are eco-system problems. So now we are at a critical juncture in the restoration of the Elephants’ sanctuary.” Dr. Tesfaye added that, as a research University, it is obviously known that Haramaya University is conducting a problem solving researches in different aspects even though Elephants in the Babile Sanctuary will not be saved only by conducting a research; it is also necessary to work with stakeholders closely.
At the consultative workshop, Mr. Solomon Mekonen, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Wildlife Authority, said that international and domestic wildlife protection rules should be adhered in order to protect the Babile Elephant Sanctuary from man-made disasters and the government should work with neighboring regional states (Oromia and Somali) and city administrations to alleviate the dangers faced by the sanctuary.
The Babile Elephant Sanctuary which is located in the border areas of Oromiya and Somali regions covers 6983 square kilometers. The Sanctuary is a home to Elephants, black mane lions and many other birds. It is said that the shelter is now being turned into a desert and the animals in it are suffering from food and water shortages.
The forum participants group photo partially.
