Latest news with #ElephantIndaba
The Citizen
5 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Rising elephant numbers spur celebration and concern in South Africa
Home to 44 000 African savanna elephants and a population that continues to grow, South Africa's conservation efforts have demonstrated success, unlike in some other countries where elephant numbers are on the decline. 'Our elephants are a national treasure, a keystone species, an integral part of our heritage, and play a significant role in maintaining a balance where the creation of value exceeds consumption, crucial for sustaining and increasing South Africa's social and natural capital, which are fundamental for inclusive socio-economic development,' the deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, said on Tuesday. As South Africa joined the global community in celebrating World Elephant Day, the deputy minister noted that elephants in South Africa have also expanded their range over the past 40 years. Most elephants in the country live in government-protected areas like Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park and Tembe Elephant Park. These parks are part of larger transfrontier conservation areas, where elephants often move freely across national borders and are shared with neighbouring countries. 'In addition to these large parks, there are 89 smaller, fenced reserves that also support elephant populations. About 6 000 elephants are owned privately or by communities, and in recent years, more and more communities have started to manage elephants themselves,' Singh said. While South Africa's success in recovering elephant populations offers hope for the species, the deputy minister warned that it also brings a difficult trade-off in the context of the country's developmental agenda and needs. 'As elephant numbers and ranges expand, encounters between people and elephants have increased, particularly in rural communities living near protected areas. 'Human-elephant conflict can result in crop losses, damage to infrastructure, and in some cases, injury or loss of human life. For many affected families, these incidents can threaten food security and livelihoods. 'Managing these interactions is essential to ensuring that conservation gains do not come at the expense of community well-being. It requires innovative solutions that promote co-existence, such as improved land-use planning, early-warning systems, community-based monitoring, and benefit-sharing initiatives that recognise the costs of living alongside elephants,' Singh said. While re-imagining conservation in the country, South Africa's aspiration is to ensure that thriving elephants contribute to improving the well-being of people and ecosystems simultaneously. The country's conservation efforts are guided by the four goals of the White Paper policy on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa's Biodiversity, which are aimed at balancing conservation with sustainable use, transformation, access and benefit sharing. The deputy minister was addressing the Elephant Indaba at Bonamanzi in KZN, a province that is home to the second-largest elephant population in the country. The Elephant Indaba coincided with World Elephant Day, which was celebrated under the theme: 'Matriarchs' and Memories'. World Elephant Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the urgent need to protect and manage the world's elephants. – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
IOL News
12-08-2025
- General
- IOL News
World Elephant Day: Understanding the challenges of elephant conservation in South Africa
On World Elephant Day, South Africa highlights the importance of elephant conservation under the theme 'Matriarchs and Memories'. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives Today marks World Elephant Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the urgent need to protect and manage the world's elephants. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said this year's commemoration, under the theme 'Matriarchs' and Memories', coincides with the Elephant Indaba, which is taking place in KwaZulu-Natal, which is home to the second-largest elephant population in the country. The DFFE said South Africa is home to about 44,000 African savanna elephants, and the population continues to grow. 'Most elephants in the country live in government-protected areas like Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park, and Tembe Elephant Park. These parks are part of larger Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), where elephants often move freely across national borders and are shared with neighbouring countries. 'In addition to these large parks, there are 89 smaller, fenced reserves that also support elephant populations. About 6,000 elephants are owned privately or by communities, and in recent years, more and more communities have started to manage elephants themselves.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Deputy Minister Narend Singh admitted that the growing elephant population offers hope for the species but also presents challenges for neighbouring communities. 'As elephant numbers and ranges expand, encounters between people and elephants have increased, particularly in rural communities living near protected areas. 'Human-elephant conflict can result in crop losses, damage to infrastructure, and in some cases, injury or loss of human life. For many affected families, these incidents can threaten food security and livelihoods. Managing these interactions is essential to ensuring that conservation gains do not come at the expense of community well-being. 'It requires innovative solutions that promote co-existence, such as improved land-use planning, early-warning systems, community-based monitoring, and benefit-sharing initiatives that recognise the costs of living alongside elephants,' Singh said. The department said Singh is hosting a conversation at Bonamanzi in KZN with policy developers, the wildlife industry, civil society groups, NGOs, scientists, researchers, traditional leaders, traditional health practitioners, and communities neighbouring protected areas, to come up with solutions and forge partnerships that will ensure that elephants remain an enduring part of the landscape that also benefits people. THE MERCURY
