WWF and EMOA respond to the release of the Norms & Standards for elephant management

This WWF/EMOA joint statement is in response to Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk’s publication of the draft Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa for public comment, at Addo Elephant National Park, on 28 February 2007.

WWF and EMOA welcome these Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa which will provide a uniform framework for the management of elephants in South Africa.

WWF’s Position:

WWF recognizes that local over-population of elephants is a significant challenge for many southern African states. We acknowledge the difficulties faced by South Africa in managing its expanding elephant population and that, after years of effective conservation work, the government is now facing tremendously difficult and soul-searching decisions. We applaud the South African government's extensive consultative process and its attempt to take on board all points of view before making a final decision on how to tackle the problem. WWF encourages all governments to use culling only as a last resort when all non-lethal options have been investigated and there is conclusive evidence that a non-lethal approach would not be as effective in managing elephant populations. Dr Rob Little, Acting Chief Executive of WWF South Africa, says that, “although WWF does not advocate culling as the preferred management alternative, we recognize that it is a management option and reiterate our view that all other options should first be explored”.


Background:

WWF has been conserving African elephants for over 40 years. The organisations work focuses on the four main objectives of: reducing illegal killing through improved protection and management; increasing capacity within range states to conserve and manage elephants; increasing public support for elephant conservation by reducing conflict; and reducing the illegal trade in elephant products.

Whereas in central and west Africa elephants remain threatened, in southern Africa many years of investment in conservation has lead to an increase in numbers. However, the success of conservation efforts has led to an additional challenge - the local over-population of elephants. In some cases elephants are becoming so abundant that they are causing problems such as the destruction of habitat from over-grazing, and damage to water sources. This can degrade the environment, reducing the food and water available for the elephants themselves as well as destroying the habitat of other wildlife species. High elephant densities can also lead to higher intensities of human-elephant conflict, with elephants raiding farmers fields and destroying village infrastructure and livelihoods.

The Norms and Standards present inclusively several options to tackle local over-population of elephants. These include range expansion through establishment of transfrontier protected areas and protection of migration corridors, translocation of elephants to under-populated areas, contraception and culling. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, its costs and constraints, but they are the viable options for elephant management.

“WWF recognizes that local over-population of elephants is a significant challenge to southern African states and it is actively helping them deal with the issue” says Dr Little. WWF is continuing to work actively with the South African government, wildlife authorities and communities to conserve elephants. The organisation is helping to establish transfrontier protected areas, to conserve elephant migration corridors, to reduce human-elephant conflict and to establish community-based natural resource management programmes that improve the livelihoods of local people whilst conserving elephants and other wildlife. WWF has also previously helped translocate elephants from South Africa to an un-populated park in Mozambique and is supporting the Peace Parks Foundation to link South African elephants with those of the Maputo Elephant Reserve.

Note to editors:

EMOA, Elephant Management and Owners Association, promotes and monitors the conservation, protection and welfare of the African Elephant.


Further info:

Dr Rob Little
Acting CEO: WWF-SA
Chairman: EMOA
WWF-SA
Tel: +27 21 888-2831
Mobile: +82 329 0249
rlittle@wwf.org.za

Dr. Susan Lieberman
Director, Global Species Programme
WWF-International
Tel: +39 06 844 97 331
Mobile: +39 347 297 2856
SLieberman@wwfspecies.org

Dr Peter James Stephenson
Africa & Madagascar Programme
WWF-International
Tel: +41 22 364 9327
PJStephenson@wwfint.org