17 January 2006

Ten of the world's leading elephant scientists are to meet in Cape Town on Wednesday to debate the future of South Africa's elephants.

The scientists have been asked to demonstrate scientific evidence in support of or against a number of propositions to reduce elephant populations in the country.

They are to look at whether the country has too many elephants and if they are really causing irreperable damage to SA's biodiversity. They will also consider whether action is needed to reduce the elephant population, and which management options are most appropriate.

The Depertment of Environmental Affairs and Tourism noted, however, that scientists from South African National Parks had already recommended that the country's elephant population be reduced through translocation, contraception, range expansion and culling.

The department has indicated that the elephant population in the Kruger National Park is increasing at a rate of seven percent every year, and doubling roughly every 10 years.

It estimates that by 2012 there may be as many as 20 000 elephants in Kruger alone, and by 2019 as many as 30 000.

Wednesday's debate, dubbed the Elephant Science Round Table, arises from a concern by Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk that, as stakeholders have insisted, his policy guideline be based on scientific evidence.

Stakeholders felt there appeared to be little consensus among leading scientists.

Van Schalkwyk indicated that his final decision would be based on available scientific, ethical and social considerations, taking into account indigenous knowledge, environmental and tourism impacts.

The department said it was likely that more scientific dialogue would take place before the draft policy was published for public comment later this year.

The elephant debate has been going on for some time, with animal rights groups pleading for the elimination of culling as a possible option to manage the country's elephant population.

Source: BuaNews

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Sustainable Development Development for "people, planet, prosperity" didn't start in South Africa with the 2002 World Summit. It didn't end there, either.

Wildlife gallery Best known are the Big Five: elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo ... not that giraffe, hippo or whale are small. Check out our photo gallery of SA's wild and wonderful animals. National Parks Kgalagadi's desert, Tsitsikamma's forest, Kruger's wildlife ... take a photo tour of South Africa's National Parks.