The ‘elephant problem’ in some protected areas is controversial, but numbers are no longer the focus of elephant management.
Around campfires, and in the media, the closure of water points, birth control and the destruction of vegetation by elephants have long been hotly debated. Some argue there are too many of them. Yet the conservation aim is neither to cull or feed these icons, nor to nurture their babies. Modern day conservation focuses on the well-being of the land, instead of on populations. Is it possible to maintain ecological processes while providing space for elephants?
To find out more about this holistic approach to elephant management, Wild questioned internationally acknowledged elephant expert Rudi van Aarde, director of the Conservation Ecology Research Unit at the University of Pretoria.
Q. In essence, what is the ‘elephant problem’?
A. Human perceptions. The real problem we face is not elephants, but whether the space assigned to them and other wildlife provides for their needs and will ensure their persistence.
Q. Is a park as large as Kruger, an ecosystem of two million hectares, too small for the number of elephants?
This story is from the Winter 2016 edition of Wild Magazine.
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This story is from the Winter 2016 edition of Wild Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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Seeds of success
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Six of the best
|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park guarantees visitors a solid serving of adventure, often with a dash of adrenalin on the side. The rugged mountain desert now boasts even more outdoor activities.
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Who's who?
Even regular park-goers struggle to distinguish a rhebok from a reedbuck. The differences are subtle but significant.
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Festive Karoo
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Love struck
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Challenge the clock
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Loud and clear
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BEACH MODELS
Rocky shores and sandy beaches are where you’ll find the African black oystercatcher. Summer is breeding season, so look out for nest scrapes close to rocks and kelp.
