Panel of experts weighs in on elephant culls

The answer to that most vexing of questions concerning the management of wild elephant populations in South Africa is now a little clearer, if not easier, following the release this week of the second draft of a comprehensive report.

The 12-chapter scientific report, the 2007 South African Assessment of Elephant Management, was compiled by 30 leading scientists, philosophers, economists, animal rights experts and lawyers, and is the first step in the more comprehensive SA Elephant Research Programme, which is aimed at co-ordinating all future elephant research.

This programme emerged from a decision by Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, who has ultimate responsibility for managing elephants in South Africa.

As part of his strategy for dealing with the international furore that emerged after a request by SA National Parks three years ago to resume elephant culling, he convened a Scientific Round Table to advise him on the issue.

One of their recommendations was that a full assessment be carried out to gather, evaluate and present all relevant information about the elephant population. That assessment has now been produced in draft form, for public comment.

Dr Bob Scholes, conservation and ecology expert from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research said the document was of "significant interest" in the continuing debate about whether elephant numbers needed to be reduced in South Africa and, if so, how this should be accomplished.

Scholes, who also served on the Round Table and who was appointed by Van Schalkwyk to lead the assessment process, said it did not contain hard recommendations on issues such as culling or contraception.

"The document does not prejudge the outcomes or make hard decisions: it provides the information, as it exists. Policymakers have found that such information, which could help guide appropriate decisions, is unavailable, contested by experts, or simply unknown.

"The information that has been presented will ultimately aid in answering questions posed by decision and policy makers, park managers, elephant owners and others concerned, as well as provide a data baseline for future research."

Chapters include the history and distribution of elephants in South Africa; elephant population biology and ecology; the effects of elephants on ecosystems and biodiversity; elephant translocation; reproductive control of elephants; ethical considerations in elephant management; and steps towards integrated decision making for elephants.

In the department's Draft Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa, released by Van Schalkwyk earlier this year, some of the available elephant population management strategies include range manipulation (water supply management, enclosure or exclusion, creation of corridors of movement between different areas; or the expansion of the range by acquisition of additional land); removal by translocation; introduction of elephants; contraception and culling.

Research on all these aspects is included in the draft as-sessment. According to the executive summary, there is consensus that a single set of policies and management rules cannot be applied to all situations involving SA elephants.

# The 2007 SA Assessment of Elephant Management is available at www.elephantassessment.co.za and comments can be submitted electronically until October 16.

The contributors will also work on a third draft. The final 2007 assessment document will be published as a book towards the end of next year.

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