No policy change on culling

2003-08-17 21:22

Johannesburg - The National Parks moratorium on elephant culling had not changed, the chief executive of South African National Parks (SanParks), Mavuso Msimang, said on Sunday.

Msimang was reacting to a story in a Sunday newspaper that culling might be the only option to reduce the number of elephants in the Kruger National Park and game parks in the North West.

Msimang said: "There has been no change in the policy decision taken by SanParks on May 4 1995 to put a moratorium on the culling of elephants in national parks despite the high elephant growth rates in Kruger National Park and despite recent articles in the media that may have given the impression to the contrary."

He said SanParks was still committed to exploring alternative ways of managing elephant populations in the Kruger National Park.

"Culling, be it of elephant or any species can be used when alternative means have been deemed ineffective and the situation is threatening the ecological integrity of an area."

The moratorium was placed on culling elephants in 1995 after a public outcry.

Animal welfare groups were also opposed to culling elephants, saying it was cruel.

- SAPA