Help Save An Elephants' Home

 We are happy to report back on our land restoration project at HERD Trust.

The HERD team on the ground have been very busy implementing the goals of our land restoration project.

We have planted 990 cement pyramids around key tree species at one of the dams in the reserve, known as Egyptian Goose Dam and in the areas where we have planted new trees. This has proven to be effective in curbing the debarking of trees by the wild elephants.

Continued erosion control is being carried out through the filling of erosion gullies with leftover elephant feed and dung from the homestead. These areas are showing a vast improvement. New regrowth is expected as the rains return toward the end of the year.

We are busy with our brushpacking endeavours, especially in overgrazed and high usage areas, giving the soil and seeds much needed time to recover from the constant impact of animals and human movement. We use sickle bush removed from dense areas around the reserve to pack over new seedlings and grass species. This allows them to rejuvenate during the drier periods. With the rainy season gradually approaching, new growth will likely proceed and improve the field conditions greatly.

During this winter season, we have spent a lot of time seeing to the roads in the reserve, and loosening grass clumps, for example, when grading the roads. Our conservation students collect the grass clumps and replant them in areas where there is little to no disturbance. Although brown and dormant for now, once the rains arrive in summer, these clumps will show lush regrowth.

With renovations and maintenance taking place at Jabulani lodge, in our reserve, we have plenty of old thatching grass, which we have used as protective layers over the bare soil in areas where needed.

Smaller gabions have been made to prevent unwanted runoff to occur during the rainy season.

We are confident that these extra measures will go a long way in helping us to restore our land and to better look after the elephants’ home.

Thank you for all your support for this vital project.

Adine and the HERD Team