AR-News: (The Netherlands)African elephants in danger of becoming victims of their own success

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Utrecht University: African Elephants in Danger of Becoming Victims of Their Own Success


UTRECHT, The Netherlands, March 15 /PRNewswire/ --  

The African elephant is thriving. In many parts of Southern and Eastern Africa, anti-poaching initiatives have been so successful that elephant populations have increased well beyond the carrying capacity of game parks and are wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. In an expert consultation organised by Utrecht University in the Netherlands, 21 scientists, veterinarians and game park managers from 9 countries concluded that the only way to avert an ecological catastrophe in the worst affected areas is to cull thousands of elephants. In the longer term, contraceptive vaccines offer considerable promise for preventing another population explosion.

Since the moratorium on culling, several protected African elephant populations have grown to such an extent that they are devastating the vegetation and threaten the existence of other species and the livelihood of neighbouring communities. If the overpopulation is not addressed rapidly and radically, a mass die-off of elephants by starvation is inevitable. Translocating animals or extending game parks are options, but most of the land that can accommodate elephants is already full. The only realistic way to address the acute problem is therefore to cull groups of elephants.

Contraception  

In the longer term, contraception is considered the most desirable and flexible way to control population growth. Contraceptive vaccines have proven effective in small-scale field trials; female elephants were rendered temporarily infertile by immunisation against vital egg-coat proteins. Scientists are also investigating whether sperm production and sexual activity in bull elephants can be suppressed. Nevertheless, further research into the efficacy, practicality, reversibility and effect on social structure of contraceptive treatments is needed before they can be implemented on a large scale in the field.

Appeal  

The workshop participants call upon the International Community to act in the interest of the entire ecosystem in affected areas of Africa. Besides the political will, financial support is desperately needed for the vast and complex business of culling or translocating elephants in a responsible fashion. Funding is also required to refine contraceptive treatments and develop demographic models to predict the number of elephants that need to be treated to halt population growth.

Internet  

The conclusions, report and proceedings of the workshop can be accessed at the website http://elephantpopulationcontrol.library.uu.nl 

SOURCE  Utrecht University  

CO:  Utrecht University

ST:  Netherlands

SU:  SVY

http://www.prnewswire.com

03/15/2004 11:45 EST