ANIMAL NEWS
February 27, 2008
Too Many Elephants?
South African officials will allow the killing of elephants to reduce their growing numbers
After a yearlong emotional debate, government officials announced on February 25, that South Africa will reverse a 1995 ban on killing elephants to control their population. Since the ban took effect in 1995, the country's elephant population has grown from 8,000 to more than 20,000. Experts predict that the population could double by 2020. "Elephant population density has risen so much in some southern African countries that there is concern about impacts on the landscape and safety of people living within elephant ranges," says Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
 |  DENIS FARRELL—AP These elephants are at a watering hole in Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa. |
In the 1800s, hunters routinely killed thousands of elephants, bringing the animals to the verge extinction. But because of the ban, the elephant population is now growing at a rate of about 5% each year. South Africa has about 18,000 elephants.
Officials worry that this boost in the elephant population could be harmful to the country's ecosystem. Elephants have very big appetites. They can eat as much as 700 pounds of leaves, grass and tree bark in one day.
A Better Way?Some animal rights activists have protested the reversal of the ban, which goes into effect on May 1. They argue that it will cause as many as 10,000 elephants to be killed. But Van Schalkwyk insists that killing will only be allowed "as a last option and under very strict conditions." He added that the elephants would be killed using "quick and humane methods."
Rob Little, of the World Wildlife Fund, said the South African government had made the correct decision. "They are doing the responsible thing," he said. "We all love elephants, no one wants to kill them, but we don't have the luxury for one species to dominate."
Bob Scholes, of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which headed a study of elephant management, believes other African countries will follow South Africa's lead. In Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, herds are thriving. Botswana has the largest population with about 165,000 elephants.
Van Schalkwyk announced that South Africa still prohibits the capturing of wild elephants for commercial purposes. "There are few other creatures on earth that have the ability of elephants to connect with humans in a very special way," he said.
