Effects of temporarily lifting the ban on trade in ivory…
August 25, 2009
Amid Legal Ivory Trade, Illegal Sales Grow
By Pete Browne
When the United Nations Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species—or CITES—temporarily lifted a ban on sales of ivory last year, the aim was to feed voracious markets in Asia with ivory from existing stockpiles (or from elephants that had died naturally), generating much-needed income for Africa.
Supporters of the move pointed out that a similar relaxation of the rules in the late 1990s did not lead to an increase in poaching, and that proceeds from such sales were at least partly used to improve conservation efforts. Some 50 tons of ivory were sold to Japan at the time, generating $5 million for Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
It’s not working out quite so well this time around. (read complete article)
Elephants to be culled for research—and for their own survival
( South Africa )
Eleanor Momberg, Sunday Independent
May 3, 2009
Elephants are to be culled in national parks in the near future.This will be done as part of a controlled experimental programme undertaken by South Africa National Parks (SANParks) to determine the effects of culling, contraception and range expansion on social behaviour and the meta-population. Culling was listed as one of the management options available in terms of the norms and standards for elephant management that came into effect last year.
Under the regulations, owners and managers of national parks and reserves roamed by the country’s ever-expanding elephant populations must prove to the environmental affairs and tourism minister or their provincial MEC that killing mega-herbivores on their properties is necessary based on scientific research. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister, said last year that culling may be used only as a last resort. (read more)
Silences and Spin Doctoring: Trying to Access Government Information on Elephants in South Africa
22 October 2008
The implementation of the controversial Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) legislative policy on elephants (the National Norms and Standards on the Management of Elephants in South Africa) which was promulgated eight months ago, has been put to the test by Animal Rights Africa (ARA), who have just completed a two-month investigative report.
ARA attempted to establish from DEAT and provincial conservation officials exactly how available and accessible comprehensive information relating to the use of elephants and their management actually is. These include the use of “culling”, the exact quantity of the elephant ivory stockpile held in the country, elephant hunting, the killing of so-called “damage causing animals”, the number of elephants held in captivity and the execution of some of the administrative processes called for by the Norms and Standards. The progress of drafting a “Minimum Standards” document in relation to the welfare of elephants in captivity (zoos, circuses and elephant back safaris) was also explored. (read more)
Culling Elephants Could Cost SA
Independent Online News (www.iol.co.za) Tourism
11 September 2007
South Africa’s fast-growing tourism industry could be hit by elephant culling, an animal rights group has warned.A “substantial number” of tourists would not come to the country if culling was reintroduced, Animal Rights Africa trustee Steve Smit told members of Parliament’s environmental affairs and tourism portfolio committee.
This assessment was based on discussions held with local tourism operators and tourism marketing agencies, as well as international animal rights organisations, he said. Earlier this year, Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk unveiled a set of draft norms and standards for the management of South Africa’s elephant herds.
Culling is among the range of options the document offers national parks to control elephant numbers, although Van Schalkwyk has given the assurance he will not “give a blank cheque” to the park authorities in this regard.South Africa stopped the culling of elephants – in the Kruger National Park – in 1995.
(read complete article)
South Africa: Culling ‘Last Resort’ for Elephant
ManagementBuaNews (Tshwane)
14 August 2007
Shaun Benton, Cape Town
Culling elephants would only be considered as a last resort, after contraception or translocation, a senior official in the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism told MPs on Tuesday. Leseho Sello, a chief director in the department, was briefing the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism on national norms and standards for management of elephants.
Translocation and even contraception, she explained, are the preferred ways of managing South Africa’s growing elephant population. While these are the preferred options, South Africa had not removed from the table the option of culling the animals, Ms Sello said. But the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, had instructed that culling be considered only as a very last resort, she said…(read complete article)