2023年6月，位于马拉维卡松古附近的马西耶·班达在采摘南瓜叶时被一头被迁移来的大象袭击，导致其身亡；冲撞中这头大象从其背上拽下并抛开她2岁的女儿比阿特丽斯。该象群于2022年7月从利翁德国家公园被转移到卡松古，转移规模为262头。
该转移由非洲野生动物基金会（IFAW）与马拉维政府合作实施，旨在缓解利翁德迅速增长的大象数量并补充卡松古因偷猎锐减的种群；但卡松古的植被营养较低，吸引大象进入周边农田，毁坏玉米、西瓜和南瓜作物并袭击村民。自2022年迁移后，当地激进农户射杀的大象已达80头，官方称至少12人遇难、数千人生计受损。
长期趋势显示，人类人口增长使人类居住与野生动物活动区更接近，昔日缓冲带已成农业区，扎姆比亚与卡松古接壤的三个区现有近50万人，冲突形态也从偷猎转向与人兽直接摩擦。受害者家属指出此举应当预判风险并追究责任，而IFAW则称决策由政府先行且为常见保育工具，官方数据也未见冲突明显上升；若诉讼推进，将成为针对动物福利组织的首例群体诉讼，但对当事人的现实意义仍是创伤：比阿特丽斯仍在动物靠近时惊恐失眠。
In June 2023, in Malawi’s Kasungu area, Masiye Banda was killed by a relocated elephant while harvesting near her village after the animal snatched her 2-year-old daughter Beatrice from her back, then trampled her. The move had brought 262 elephants from Liwonde to Kasungu in July 2022, and local reports since then cite at least 12 human deaths, thousands of livelihoods disrupted, and at least 80 elephants dead, many shot by angry farmers.
The transfer, led by IFAW with Malawi’s government, was intended to reduce pressure on Liwonde and rebuild Kasungu’s poaching-depleted elephant numbers, but Kasungu’s low-nutrient terrain pushed elephants into nearby farms growing maize, watermelon, and pumpkins, increasing crop loss and attacks. Broader demographic shifts have moved people into former buffer zones, and nearly half a million people now live in three Zambian districts bordering Kasungu, while conflict with people increasingly replaces poaching as the main threat.
Residents argue the risks should have been anticipated and are pursuing a first-of-its-kind group negligence suit against IFAW in Britain, while IFAW says it followed government direction and standard conservation practice, with no official rise in conflict shown. Experts say better planting coordination, education on wildlife routes, community benefits, and expensive but useful fencing can reduce harm, yet survivors like Beatrice—who still panics whenever an animal approaches—find little immediate relief.
Source: A deadly conflict in Malawi raises questions about conservatio
Subtitle: How can humans coexist with wild animals?
Dateline: 4月 09, 2026 03:38 上午 | Cafwamba