IN a bid to control KwaZulu-Natal’s elephant populations, a number of parks, including the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (IWP), have introduced an elephant contraceptive programme.
The IWP is one of three KwaZulu-Natal parks whose elephant populations will undergo the three year treatment plan as part of an agreement between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) and Humane Society International (HSI).
The project is funded by EKZNW, HSI and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the African Elephant Conservation Fund.
Immuno-contraception is a non-hormonal form of contraception based on the scientific principles of immunisation through vaccination.
According to a HSI press release, substantial research has shown immuno-contraception to be a safe, effective way to control elephant population growth and has no effect on the animals’ behaviour.
It is also reversible, allowing conservation managers to fine-tune population growth. The vaccine is delivered remotely by dart gun, making the technique minimally invasive and eliminating the need for anaesthetisation.
Use of immuno-contraception is a preferable alternative to other methods of population control, such as culling or capture and translocation which, ultimately, do not solve the problem as populations increase reactively.
While elephant poaching severely threatens the survival of African elephants in several countries on the continent, the illegal activity is relatively low in South Africa. As a result, the country’s elephant populations must be managed, especially in small enclosed parks and private conservancies.
Population management helps protect biodiversity which is vitally important in IWP, one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world.
Audrey K Delsink, HSI’s Field Director for the Elephant Contraception Programme in South Africa, said: ‘We are very pleased to be working with Ezemvelo and iSimangaliso on this project. We hope that more elephant managers will fully embrace and use this technology to control elephant population growth in a proactive, effective and humane manner.’
Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, said ‘Elephants were reintroduced into iSimangaliso [Wetland Park] in 2003 after a one hundred year absence… iSimangaliso [is] pleased to implement the latest technology in elephant population control within our park to effectively manage the numbers without negative consequences.’
