IFAW News Release: Cull No Answer to Control Kruger Elephants

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

 

 

Here is our latest release on finding viable alternatives to the culling of

elephant herds. Let me know if I can assist you further.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

Kerry

 

 

 

Kerry Branon

Communications Coordinator

International Fund for Animal Welfare

75 Attucks Lane

Hyannis, MA 02601

508-744-2068

kbranon <kbranon

www.ifaw.org <http://www.ifaw.org/>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

 

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Contact:

 

Christina Pretorius (IFAW) - S.A. Tel: +27 (21) 424 2086 or +27 (82)

330-2558;

 

Email: cpretorius

 

Chris Cutter (IFAW) - U.S. Tel: 508-744-2066; Email: ccutter

 

 

 

 

 

Cull No Answer to Control Kruger Elephants

 

 

 

(Cape Town, South Africa - 18 May 2004) - 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 - 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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