South African National Parks (SANParks) celebrated 2024 World Elephant Day under the theme “Evidence-Based Conservation – The Success Story Behind South Africa’s Elephant Management Lessons”.
This theme emphasises the importance of an evidence-based approach as the foundation of successful elephant conservation in all national parks with elephants, including the approach taken in relation to the management of the Knysna elephant.
In a recent stakeholder survey respondents emphasised the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of elephants in the area.
Stakeholders stressed the importance of adopting a cautious, evidence-based management approach, guided by specialists in the field.
Research by SANParks highlights the evasive nature of the Knysna elephant and its tendency to avoid human interaction, reinforcing the need for careful consideration of any future interventions.
These findings support a low-risk, minimal-disturbance approach, aligning with the cautious stance recommended by stakeholders.
The outcome of the research informed the development of a new Garden Route Elephant Management Plan, submitted for approval.
SANParks seeks to engage with authorities and primary stakeholders to better understand risk and opportunities and build a common understanding of the complexities of elephant management in an unfenced social-ecological system such as the Garden Route.
SANParks remains committed to the responsible management of the Knysna elephant and will continue to prioritise evidence-based approaches.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Knysna forest, part of the Garden Route National Park, was once home to 1 000 elephants that historically roamed between Afromontane forest and fynbos in the Outeniqua-Tsitsikamma area.
According to Daily Maverick, the San people, the original human inhabitants of the southern Cape, were the first people to chronicle elephants’ presence in the forest, and often depicted them in their rock art.
By the late 1700s European settlers had arrived, and elephants began to retreat due to hunting. The conflict between humans and elephants intensified during the mid-1800s, decimating their numbers further.
Today, Strangefoot is the only elephant consistently tracked in the region by South African National Parks (SANParks).
Now 50 years old, she’s believed to be the only surviving native Knysna elephant in the forest.
Have you ever seen – or seen evidence – of an elephant in the Knysna forest?
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