Cites drawn into Namibian elephant sale
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
An international wildlife organisation, the Born Free Foundation, has now also voiced its concern and expressed opposition against Namibia's sale of 170 elephants by sending an open letter to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).
The letter was also addressed to President Hage Geingob and environment minister Pohamba Shifeta.
The ministry advertised a tender for selling 170 elephants in December last year, saying it was a response to the recent drought and an increase in the animals' numbers, coupled with human-elephant conflict. These elephants are from the Omatjetje area, the Kamanjab commercial farming area, Grootfontein-Kavango cattle ranching area and the Grootfontein- Tsumkwe area.a
The Born Free Foundation says the proposed sale will not achieve the objectives of controlling populations or reducing human-elephant conflict.
“Moreover, the capture and relocation of elephants could have extremely deleterious impacts on the health and welfare of the individuals concerned, the stability of their wider societies, and the health of the ecosystems of which they are an integral part.”
It says the removal of individuals or groups from established herds may also have implications for the remainder of the herd, and can lead to behavioural changes which may in turn increase the likelihood of conflict with people.
“Researchers have concluded that translocation of elephants can cause wider propagation and intensification of human-elephant conflict, and increased elephant mortality, thus defeating both human-elephant co-existence and elephant conservation goals.”
It also argues that a number of strategies have been developed for mitigating human-elephant conflict. Those strategies avoid removing individual elephants or family groups from populations.
“We urge the Namibian authorities to ensure that all efforts have been made to implement appropriate and humane mitigation strategies in the areas concerned, in preference to the removal of elephants from the population.”
The Foundation further stresses that it is imperative that Namibia abides by internationally agreed restrictions on exports of live elephants, and desists from permitting the export of live, wild-caught elephants to captive facilities under any circumstances.
It says estimates published in 2014 suggested that, over its lifetime, an individual elephant may be worth as much as $1.6 million in ecotourism revenue. It points out that media reports have suggested that tourists may already be considering boycotting Namibia if wild elephants are captured for sale.
“In light of the above, we urge the Namibian authorities to withdraw the tender notice and work with international experts to identify and implement solutions to perceived overpopulation, human- elephant conflict, and drought, which avoid the forced removal of elephants from their family groups and wider ecosystems.”
Unmoved
The environment ministry last week told Namibian Sun that it will not be influenced by people that do not understand the situation of Namibian communities on the ground. The tender for the sale of closes on 29 January.
The letter was undersigned by members of the PRO Elephant Network and other organisations and individuals with interest in elephant management.
Several online petitions have also been started against the sale of the elephants.
WINDHOEK
An international wildlife organisation, the Born Free Foundation, has now also voiced its concern and expressed opposition against Namibia's sale of 170 elephants by sending an open letter to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).
The letter was also addressed to President Hage Geingob and environment minister Pohamba Shifeta.
The ministry advertised a tender for selling 170 elephants in December last year, saying it was a response to the recent drought and an increase in the animals' numbers, coupled with human-elephant conflict. These elephants are from the Omatjetje area, the Kamanjab commercial farming area, Grootfontein-Kavango cattle ranching area and the Grootfontein- Tsumkwe area.a
The Born Free Foundation says the proposed sale will not achieve the objectives of controlling populations or reducing human-elephant conflict.
“Moreover, the capture and relocation of elephants could have extremely deleterious impacts on the health and welfare of the individuals concerned, the stability of their wider societies, and the health of the ecosystems of which they are an integral part.”
It says the removal of individuals or groups from established herds may also have implications for the remainder of the herd, and can lead to behavioural changes which may in turn increase the likelihood of conflict with people.
“Researchers have concluded that translocation of elephants can cause wider propagation and intensification of human-elephant conflict, and increased elephant mortality, thus defeating both human-elephant co-existence and elephant conservation goals.”
It also argues that a number of strategies have been developed for mitigating human-elephant conflict. Those strategies avoid removing individual elephants or family groups from populations.
“We urge the Namibian authorities to ensure that all efforts have been made to implement appropriate and humane mitigation strategies in the areas concerned, in preference to the removal of elephants from the population.”
The Foundation further stresses that it is imperative that Namibia abides by internationally agreed restrictions on exports of live elephants, and desists from permitting the export of live, wild-caught elephants to captive facilities under any circumstances.
It says estimates published in 2014 suggested that, over its lifetime, an individual elephant may be worth as much as $1.6 million in ecotourism revenue. It points out that media reports have suggested that tourists may already be considering boycotting Namibia if wild elephants are captured for sale.
“In light of the above, we urge the Namibian authorities to withdraw the tender notice and work with international experts to identify and implement solutions to perceived overpopulation, human- elephant conflict, and drought, which avoid the forced removal of elephants from their family groups and wider ecosystems.”
Unmoved
The environment ministry last week told Namibian Sun that it will not be influenced by people that do not understand the situation of Namibian communities on the ground. The tender for the sale of closes on 29 January.
The letter was undersigned by members of the PRO Elephant Network and other organisations and individuals with interest in elephant management.
Several online petitions have also been started against the sale of the elephants.
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