options including culling, contraception, translocation, conservation corridors, and reinforced and upgraded fences.

***

Govt Seeks to Control Growing Elephant Populations

BuaNews (Tshwane)

September 20, 2005
Themba Gadebe
Pretoria

Government is to take control measures in a bid to manage the "rapidly" growing elephant population in the country.

Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told the media today that a "do nothing option is not an option"

"We need to control elephant populations in some areas", he said adding that this would help maintain the country's biodiversity.

He emphasised the move was not about elephant hunting.

According to the Minister, the elephant population in the Kruger National Park was increasing at seven percent every year, and "doubling roughly" every ten years.

"By 2012 there may be as many as 20 000 elephants in Kruger alone, and by 2019 as many as 30 000," he said.

Government's intervention as recommended by the South African National Parks include the capture, translocation, contraception or culling.

The minister said however, this would be overseen by an animal ethics committee, adding that where necessary, animal products should be utilised to the benefit of local communities.

"I am persuaded that the do nothing option would not work. Quite frankly, I would rather not have to make these tough decisions but it falls on me to act.

"We need to find practical and sustainable solutions that are fair to people, elephants, and our broader environment that are acceptable to the majority of our people," he said, adding that elephant management remained one of the emotive issues within regional conservation.

He said there had been consultations with provincial authorities recently.

During the consultations, it was established that all provinces, parks, and elephant ranges face similar challenges and that there was a "pressing" need for sustainable solutions to be found.

The provincial deliberations further indicated a need for national norms and standards to define a flexible basket of management options including culling, contraception, translocation, conservation corridors, and reinforced and upgraded fences.

Furthermore, Mr Van Schalkwyk outlined the challenge of elephant management had been presented to Cabinet, which had given a mandate for the drafting and publication of norms and standards.

In this light, the Minister said he would task experts in his department to draft regulations for elephant management across the country.

This, he noted would be made available for public comment by the end of the year, with the goal of publishing the final document in the first quarter of 2006.

"The elephant issue has already been the subject of intensive lobbying by vocal and passionate advocates of the various management options - both locally and internationally. Therefore the consultation process will provide every stakeholder concerned with an opportunity to formally register their views," he said.

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