Bloomberg
News -
By Paul Burkhardt October 13, 2014
Elephants at a water hole in
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game reserve, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The about 600
elephants in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi come from a population of 160 that were
introduced between 1985 and 1991 when they were moved from the Kruger National
Park, which was considered over populated with elephants, according to the
park’s website. Photographer: Alexander Joe/AFP via Getty Images
Elephants at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park,
South Africa’s oldest game reserve, have begun receiving a contraceptive
vaccine to control the pachyderm population.
The game reserve is the largest in
the program, which now includes 20 parks, according to the statement by the
Humane Society International, an animal conservation organization.
“The immunocontraceptive program
allows elephant populations to be managed humanely, especially in small
enclosed parks and private conservancies,” said the group, along with Ezemvelo,
the conservation authority in KwaZulu-Natal, the province where the park is
located.
While elephants are endangered
across much of Africa, in Southern Africa many parks are overpopulated, leading
to damage to ecosystems as the animals, which can weigh six metric tons and
stand 3.3 meters (10 feet) at the shoulder, tear down trees.
In the past, including in South
Africa, they have been culled, leading to protests from animal rights
organizations. Moving the animals from one area to another is usually
considered too expensive to be viable as a conservation method.
The about 600 elephants in
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi come from a population of 160 that were introduced between
1985 and 1991 when they were moved from the Kruger National Park, which was
considered over populated with elephants, according to the park’s website.
Slowing the growth of the elephant
population is converse to the problem South Africa faces over a threatened
rhino herd.
At least 769 rhinos have been
poached this year in the nation, with two-thirds of those being killed in the
Kruger park, compared with a record 1,004 of the animals slaughtered in all of
last year.
The vaccine, injected remotely into
African elephant cows by dart gun, is a non-hormonal treatment, the groups
said. “It is also reversible, allowing managers to fine-tune population
growth.”
Africa has between 470,000 and
690,000 elephants, according to the WWF. Of those 300,000 live in southern
Africa.
To contact the reporter on this
story: Paul Burkhardt in Johannesburg at pburkhardt@bloomberg.net
Reference: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-13/elephants-start-contraception-at-south-africa-s-oldest-reserve
