New Policy Sought on Elephant Management (4 September, 1996)

Every South African can help the National Parks Board (NPB) in formulating a new management policy for the continent's largest mammal - the African elephant.

Following a debate last year, which saw culling put on hold, the country's premier conservation organisation has now asked conservation and animal rights organisations and other interested parties to submit ideas for a new elephant management policy for the Kruger National Park. To facilitate and stimulate submissions, the NPB has produced a discussion document which is available from the Board's head office in Groenkloof, Pretoria.

'Anyone is free to submit ideas. The only stipulation is they must be in our hands by November 11 this year,' chief executive Robbie Robinson said in Pretoria on 3 September.

November 12 has been set aside for a public participation conference on elephant policy in Kruger, where submissions received will be tabled and discussed.

'The date has been finalised and as soon as a suitable venue has been found it will also be made public,' he said.

Included in the discussion document is an overview of the existing elephant management policy, identifying what has to be done in terms of a revised management programme and a possible manipulative experiment to measure elephant's impact on habitat and biodiversity.

'This must be seen as a discussion document and as such, although it contains many good suggestions, our best shot will come only after November 12 when all submissions and ideas have been heard,' NPB Research and Development Director Dr Anthony Hall-Martin said.

'Nothing in this document is cast in stone, and we expect innovative thinking from people out there to help us,' Dr Robinson added. Staff Reporter, Courtesy of the Pretoria News, 4 September 1996.

This issue is of great significance, and will be followed up as a WildNet Africa Hot Wildlife Issue. Keep visiting WildNet Africa to monitor developments.