Elephants get new home

2006-10-10 13:08

Johannesburg - Twelve elephants in KwaZulu-Natal that faced culling have been given a reprieve and will be moved to a wildlife sanctuary in Limpopo, Animal Rights Africa said on Tuesday.

Due to a successful land restitution claim, the entire Thukela Biosphere Reserve, near Weenen, now has new owners who do not want the elephants on their newly returned land.

The elephants, orphaned by culling in the Kruger National Park, were taken to Thukela Biosphere Reserve in the early 1990s.

They then bonded with family groups and have now produced calves of their own.

A decision to cull the elephants was taken earlier this year by the new owners of the land, the Lindaukhuhle Trust.

Hunters were called in to carry out the grim task but due to the intervention of two animal rights groups, Justice for Animals and Xwe African Wild Life, a reprieve for the elephants was negotiated.

A new home for the elephants was found at the SanWild sanctuary near Letsitele in Limpopo.

"SanWild's application to the Limpopo conservation authorities for permits to import the elephants from KZN was successful, and immediately led to the launch of a massive logistical operation which will see the elephants darted from a helicopter, loaded onto huge trucks and transported hundreds of kilometers to their new home in the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary," said Animal Rights Africa.

The SanWild Wildlife Trust, together with Xwe African Wildlife and Justice for Animals have taken joint "ownership" of these elephants.

- SAPA