Let Elephants Roam

Some 1.4 billion people live in Africa, which could nearly double by 2050. Increasing pressure on the continent's wildlife refuges and the diversity they harbour seems inevitable. This is the social, political and economic reality of Africa. Development of mega-infrastructure, agriculture, and mining consume wildlife habitat, fragment migratory pathways, and reduce access to food and water sources. This scenario sees elephants and other wildlife confined almost everywhere to 'islands' of protected areas in a sea of people and their activities.

Let Elephants Roam is the work of conservation ecologist Rudi van Aarde, who, until his recent untimely death in 2023, was a world-renowned champion of Africa's remaining savanna elephants. His unshakeable mission was to find a way for elephants to thrive alongside people and their livelihoods. This book is the culmination of Rudi's determination to show us – scientists, governments, industrialists and ordinary citizens alike – how we can, and must, provide for the spatial needs of elephants.