AR-News: Cull No Answer to Control Kruger Elephants, Says IFAW

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Cull No Answer to Control Kruger Elephants, Says IFAW

5/18/2004 10:54:00 AM 


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To: National and International desks 

Contact: Christina Pretorius, South Africa 27-21-424-2086 or 27-82-330-2558 or Cpretorius at ifaw.org, or Chris Cutter, U.S. 508-744-2066 or Ccutter at ifaw.org, both of The International Fund for Animal Welfare; Web: http://www.ifaw.org

CAPE TOWN, South Africa May 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Culling Kruger National Park elephants has again been rejected as a method of herd management and problem animal control.

IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare -- http://www.ifaw.org) this week warned against a "quick fix" approach to the park's elephant population, urging that more humane long-term alternatives need to be sought.

"The suggestion that elephant managers should cull or hunt to control, is publicly unpopular and is not one that will enhance the image of South African conservationists. They need to be seen to be actively investigating friendly alternatives -- not solving their problems down the barrel of a gun," said Jason Bell-Leask, IFAW's South Africa Director.

Last week the former head of conservation at the park suggested that recent fatal attacks by elephants on human beings might be triggered by stress brought on by overpopulation.

Willem Gertenbach went onto say the park was struggling to cope with the impact of its elephants on biodiversity and humans in the area and that the only way to reduce their numbers was "by a properly implemented culling policy."

"Using this kind of sensationalism to help motivate a cull is shocking and counter-productive," said Bell-Leask.

"The tragic deaths, most recently that of ecologist Kay Hiscocks, are upsetting but should not distract from the need to come up with pragmatic and thoughtful ways of solving elephant overpopulation problems."

IFAW believes a solution might be to link key elephant populations in Southern Africa and is currently funding research in Zambia's Kafue National Park examining migration patterns of elephants that will help facilitate conservation planning.

The Greater Limpopo Transfrontier initiative between South Africa (Kruger National Park) is already in place, and the next challenge is to establish the Okavango/Upper Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area that will straddle the borders of Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

"Trans-boundary conservation areas that straddle international borders could be the answer to solving the impact large elephant herds have on vegetation in national parks and reserves and could also solve human/elephant conflict," said Bell-Leask.

"By creating vast trans-boundary conservation areas, the countries of Southern Africa would be sending a powerful message of mutual cooperation to the rest of the world. Elephants would benefit, people would benefit and so would national coffers as a result of the revenues raised by tourists wanting to view the magnificent sight of herds of roaming elephants."


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