Blonde By Nature

Just when I was feeling disheartened that my precious wolves were going to be hunted and tossed out to the wolves, I discover that one of the most majestic creatures on this planet is going through the same thing in South Africa.

Since I was 14 years old (’95) , culling has been banned from South Africa and has brought the elephant population up to 18,000. A nice round number of 18,000, and according to the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the South African National Parks, the numbers are just about right to have a good defense for kil…er…culling. The elephants are becoming too much of a pain to the people living close to them because they (prepared to be shocked) eat their crops, drink their water and CAN be dangerous.

He also claims that they are going to try other things such as a contraceptives. I suppose in this case, I agree on the use of contraceptives to be used by professionals (check out Oral Contraceptives for Animals?). Culling was to be the last option – yet it will become available May 1st. One would think that if this was truly their course of action that an attempt would be made at the other options first for at least a couple of mating seasons. Obviously that it is too expensive. (Note: the S. African National Parks proposed this to the Ministry in 2005 and even then ‘culling’ has been seen in the report.) But here’s an even better idea: the number is high enough, let’s kill them for their ivory and make money on the their inability to live peacefully near people because, let’s face it, those big bad beasts just don’t listen to reason. Guess you can’t blame the Neanderthal-like rationale behind this justification because “Where culling is necessary, animal products should for utilised to the benefit of local communities.” Well then, that makes the world right again.

South Africa has been the largest supplier of ivory despite the 13 year global ban according to the World Wild Life Fund and because of the global ban, ivory is in demand. Knowing that little bit of information alone makes me very afraid for these caring creatures no matter how many times I see the words “appropriate management”, “consultation boards” and “best interests of sustainable conservation.”

So unless we fight this by following the actions that Animal Rights Africa suggests, we will be seeing a lot of this.

You can also email the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism directly, Martinus van Schalkwyk, and voice your concerns. Email (in care of his secretary): mwillemse@deat.gov.za

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