Capture of Wild Elephants for Commercial Purposes Prohibited

MEDIA STATEMENT
ISSUED ON 26 FEBRUARY 2008
CONTACT PERSON BRENDA SANTON 011 907 3590 OR 082 828 0386

WILD ELEPHANTS CAPTURE FOR COMMERCIAL EXHIBITIONS PROHIBITED

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) views the final Norms and Standards for Elephant Management in South Africa, announced yesterday by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk as a valuable regulatory instrument.

Since the start of the consultative process the NSPCA has provided input and comment through both written submissions and active participation in the workshops and forums facilitated by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. From the outset, the NSPCA has been vocal in expressing its concern for the lack of protection afforded elephants held captive in zoos, circuses and elephant-back safaris operations.

Wild animals belong in the wild has long been the stance of the NSPCA Wildlife Unit, and we applaud the Minister s decision to prohibit the capture of wild elephants for commercial exhibition facilities further that the Norms and Standards also prohibit the import and export of wild or captive elephants for the purposes of keeping them in captivity is prohibited, said Brenda Santon, Manager of the Wildlife Unit. We are however, seriously perturbed that provision has been made for the temporary import and export of captive circus elephants, even if for limited periods. Our concerns are based on welfare principles and the unnecessary confinement and transportation of these social creatures for the sole purpose of entertainment.

A further control in respect of captive elephants is the prevention of intensive breeding of captive elephants, other than by natural birth. We would have preferred to have seen compulsory contraception/sterilisation to cap the number of elephants in captivity. It is as yet not clear what monitoring processes will be set in place to ensure that other methods of impregnation are not used.

The joint task team to be established by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is welcomed and the NSPCA is committed to addressing welfare concerns at the established forum. We trust that the Department of Agriculture will adopt the responsible and committed efforts of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the formulation of a regulatory instrument mentioned by Minister van Schalkwyk. The development of minimum standards for the management of captive elephant to be developed within 12 months by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is also acknowledged.

The NSPCA remains confident that the provisions and conditions stipulated within the Norms and Standards will be upheld that management interventions will be based on scientific knowledge and that all available alternatives to culling will first be explored. In the absolute event that lethal measures are necessary, this must be carried out humanely and with compassion and steps must also be taken to avoid the reoccurrence of the need to reduce numbers.

There is no disputing the fact that elephants are intelligent and social animals that develop strong family bonds within their social structures. Elephants are sentient beings worthy of consideration and we share the Minister s sentiments expressed in his speech of 25 February 2008 that cruel and unethical practices be rooted out .

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