SOUTH AFRICA: The rising number of elephants in South Africa's national parks has raised once again the controversial issue of culling

Record ID: 185205

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: The rising number of elephants in South Africa's national parks has raised once again the controversial issue of culling
  • Date: 1st March 2007
  • Summary: (W4) ADDO NATIONAL PARK, PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA (FEBRUARY 27, 2007) (REUTERS) ELEPHANTS AT WATER HOLE
  • Embargoed: 16th March 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVACIC7EJ2TEVOZR5CTHUNE33A6G
  • Story Text: South Africa on Wednesday (February 28) unveiled a new policy to manage its swelling elephant population, including resuming a controversial cull of the animals if needed.
    Government experts have been pushing for a targeted slaughter of some of the country's 20,000 elephants, as well as a birth control programme to preserve habitat endangered by the voracious eaters.
    The World Wildlife Fund, a leading conservation group, said that culling should only be used as a last resort when all non-lethal options have been investigated. They said that there was conclusive evidence that the non-lethal approach would not be as effective in managing elephant populations.
    Government scientists say the elephant population, which was once near extinction in South Africa, is growing at a rate of more than 5 percent a year and is expected to double by 2020.
    At Kruger National Park, the jewel in the nation's game park system, the number of elephants has risen to around 14,000 since culling stopped in 1995 after an outcry from animal rights activists and the public.
    Last year South Africa postponed resuming a cull at Kruger after opposition by conservationists who said the practice, which involves rounding up and shooting entire family groups, was cruel.
    Supporters of the cull say the elephants pose a serious threat to the environment because of their huge appetites. A single grown elephant can devour hundreds of kilograms of grass and leaves per day.
    South Africa culled thousands of elephants in the three decades leading up to the mid-1990s because of fears their ballooning numbers would overwhelm the environment.
    Zoologist Professor Graham Kerly said that culling was not the only option open to the parks.
    Opponents of culling say forced migration and contraception -- sterilisation and other forms -- are more humane alternatives, while supporters argue that neither option is a long-term solution to overcrowding at Addo and other parks.
    Either way, it cannot be doubted that tourists come to the game parks to see elephants.
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