S Africa to cull elephants to control population
South Africa's government has said it will allow the killing of elephants to control their population, lifting a 13-year moratorium on the practice.
By PTI |
| South African government will allow the killing of elephants to control their population (Agencies Photo) |
DURBAN: South Africa's government has said it will allow the killing of elephants to control their population, lifting a 13-year moratorium on the practice.
"The elephant population is really out of control and to protect other forms of biodiversity we had to intervene," Tourism and Environment Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk told reporters while making the announcement in Pretoria on Sunday.
The minister, however, said culling will be used only as "a last resort".
He said the government wants wildlife park authorities to first consider other options to control ballooning elephant population before resorting to culling.
Van Schalkwyk also announced that a lid will be placed on the growing elephant-back Safari industry and on the capture of elephants for commercial exhibition purposes from May 1.
There are about eighteen thousand elephants in South Africa, of which twelve thousand are in the famous Kruger National Park alone.
"The new policy recognises that the objectives and local circumstances vary from park to park. Government has taken steps in the new policy to ensure that culling is accepted only under strict conditions and following consultation with local stakeholders.
"Management plans have to be submitted to the authorities before culling will be approved," the minister said.
Other options for population control included removal by translocation and contraception, Van Schalkwyk said.
"The elephant population is really out of control and to protect other forms of biodiversity we had to intervene," Tourism and Environment Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk told reporters while making the announcement in Pretoria on Sunday.
The minister, however, said culling will be used only as "a last resort".
He said the government wants wildlife park authorities to first consider other options to control ballooning elephant population before resorting to culling.
Van Schalkwyk also announced that a lid will be placed on the growing elephant-back Safari industry and on the capture of elephants for commercial exhibition purposes from May 1.
There are about eighteen thousand elephants in South Africa, of which twelve thousand are in the famous Kruger National Park alone.
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"The new policy recognises that the objectives and local circumstances vary from park to park. Government has taken steps in the new policy to ensure that culling is accepted only under strict conditions and following consultation with local stakeholders.
"Management plans have to be submitted to the authorities before culling will be approved," the minister said.
Other options for population control included removal by translocation and contraception, Van Schalkwyk said.
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