Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 What does anyone here make of this? * * * Leakey backing for elephant cull* By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News website http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7301195.stm *The eminent conservationist Richard Leakey has given qualified backing for South Africa's plan to cull elephants.* In an article for the BBC News website, the former head of the Kenyan Wildlife Service says culling is " a necessary part of population management " . But Dr Leakey says there is also a responsibility to curb human activities that impinge on elephant habitat. South Africa plans to allow culling after a gap of 14 years because of growing numbers of elephants. The population is estimated to have expanded from 8,000 to 18,000 in little more than a decade. The plan has aroused the ire of some environment and animal welfare groups. Some are so opposed to the plan that they have called for tourist boycotts. *Necessary evil* Having made his name as a palaeontologist studying the origins of humanity in Africa, the 1980s saw Dr Leakey at the forefront of the movement campaigning for the suspension of elephant culling. But now he sees it as necessary. " While I will never 'like' the idea of elephant culling, I do accept that given the impacts of human-induced climate change and habitat destruction, elephants inside and outside of protected areas will become an increasingly serious problem unless key populations are reduced and maintained at appropriate levels, " he writes in an article for the BBC's Green Room series. " Though I find elephant culling repugnant, I can see the sense in it [in some scenarios]. " The resumption of culling was announced last month by environment minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk as part of a package of measures for controlling elephant numbers. In some parts of the country, people have complained that the animals are dangerous, and that they eat crops and drink water intended for the human population. The South African plan lists culling as a last resort, with measures such as better management of elephant enclosures, translocation, and contraception examined first. *Social impacts* Richard Leakey says the priority given to animal welfare in the South African plan is a major reason for his change of stance. " I was pleasantly surprised to find that the guiding principles... begin with the acknowledgement that 'elephants are intelligent, have strong family bonds and operate within highly socialised groups', " he writes. In contrast, he says the previous culling programme which his campaigning helped to end in 1994 appeared to be largely commercially motivated, was not managed in a scientific manner and was unacceptably inhumane " . Dr Leakey, whose most recent work includes founding the conservation group WildlifeDirect, believes it is essential to recognise that conflicts between elephants and human communities can and should be addressed by looking at the human end of the problem as well. With human activities encroaching ever further into traditional wildlife habitat, competition for land, food and water is increasing. " I believe that we have a responsibility to check habitat impacts in order to reduce conflicts between elephants and humans by controlling human activities as well, " he writes. The South African management plan sees culling becoming an option from 1 May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 > What does anyone here make of this? > * > * * Leakey backing for elephant cull* > By Richard Black > Environment correspondent, BBC News website > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7301195.stm > > *The eminent conservationist Richard Leakey has given qualified backing for > South Africa's plan to cull elephants.* BBC may still tag him as 'eminent conservationist'. But the fact is, by supporting the cull he is encouraging MURDER. Azam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 Hi Azam, I think we might want to discuss here first what alternatives there are to the culling of the elephants. Am a bit lost why this African issue is on the AAPN... Edwin Wiek WFFT Thailand / Laos Moderator's note: I allowed the post through because this list has a strong interest in elephants and what is happening today in Africa may happen tomorrow in Asia. I believe it is good that we should debate the issue here sooner rather than later. John, Moderator, AAPN. _____ aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of AZAM SIDDIQUI Wednesday, 19 March, 2008 1:13 AM Seelan Palay Cc: aapn Re: Leakey backing for elephant cull > What does anyone here make of this? > * > * * Leakey backing for elephant cull* > By Richard Black > Environment correspondent, BBC News website > http://news. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7301195.stm> bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7301195.stm > > *The eminent conservationist Richard Leakey has given qualified backing for > South Africa's plan to cull elephants.* BBC may still tag him as 'eminent conservationist'. But the fact is, by supporting the cull he is encouraging MURDER. Azam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 Edwin, Edwin there is a VALID link to the subject 'CULLING of Elephants'. Whether African or Asian is something that should not be permitted to count. We are here to learn from the mistakes of others, and please remember that if the culling of elephants in the African continent is something that is not condemned, debated, and criticized by Asian animal people or to be more precise 'PEOPLE OF ASIAN ORIGIN WORKING FOR ASIAN ANIMALS' then very soon the African example is going to find place in some wretched Nation in South East Asia or to begin with India. Also if the legendary elephant expert Dame Daphne Sheldrick based in the African continent can voice for the 'Asian Elephants' and has openly condemned the 'CULLING' then why not us? Can you help me out with how many news media organisations have approached Dame Daphne for a quote on culling. Perhaps none, because the lobby that is pro culling has its roots stretched far....so far that I may not be surprised if people working for Asian elephant conservation tomorrow come out and defend the 'Culling of Africa' and demand something similar back here. And as far as alternatives to culling are concerned, I am pasting you the reaction of Dame Daphne which itself is self explanatory. Regards, Azam Dame Daphne`s reactions received last year 2007: Dear Azam, Thank you for your Email of 27th February. The international public, who now understand the nature of elephants, and the fact that they are very human in emotion, age progression and longevity are unanimously against the brutal culling, which leaves elephant society in tatters. Elephants have a superior memory to humans (scientifically proven through a study of the brain by Dr. Gay Bradshaw), and if it is unacceptable for humans to cull their own over-population for obvious reasons, then it should never be countenanced for elephants. There are other means of dealing with an over population in small Protected Areas, i.e. contraception, moving family units (which has been done successfully in Kenya) or allowing Nature to enact its own way of culling, whereby sub adult females throughout the entire population are targeted during times of privation, and die quietly, peacefully and en masse near permanent water (the myth of the elephants'Graveyard). By removing sub-adult females from an elephant population, gaps are created in breeding, putting the population into decline until times are better. The brutal culling of elephants by humans is usually financially driven by greed and corruption. Nature does a better job of it by targeting the females, the sick and the maimed, so that a healthier and stronger population emerges through natural selection, which is Nature's most powerful tool. South Africa is a pariah when it comes to Animal Welfare, and the corruption, greed, and mal-practices there are well documented and well known, examples being the Tuli Debacle, the infamous Canned Lion Hunting, the Sport Hunting of endangered species taken from Protected Areas and offered up to Hunters in exchange for money, etc., etc. Theirs is no example for India to follow, for India is seen as always having had a far more humane and compassionate approach to wild animals, animals generally, and especially elephants. Evil practices like culling for financial gain should never be allowed, and only public and international pressure can be used to dissuade those in power against it. Best wishes. Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick. On Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 8:52 AM, Edwin Wiek <edwin_wiek wrote: > Hi Azam, > > I think we might want to discuss here first what alternatives there are to > the culling of the elephants. > > Am a bit lost why this African issue is on the AAPN... > > Edwin Wiek > WFFT Thailand / Laos > ------------------------------ > ** aapn [aapn ] *On Behalf Of > *AZAM SIDDIQUI > *Sent:* Wednesday, 19 March, 2008 1:13 AM > *To:* Seelan Palay > *Cc:* aapn > *Subject:* Re: Leakey backing for elephant cull > > > What does anyone here make of this? > > * > > * * Leakey backing for elephant cull* > > By Richard Black > > Environment correspondent, BBC News website > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7301195.stm > > > > *The eminent conservationist Richard Leakey has given qualified backing > for > > South Africa's plan to cull elephants.* > > BBC may still tag him as 'eminent conservationist'. But the fact is, > by supporting the cull he is encouraging MURDER. > > Azam > > > __________ NOD32 2956 (20080318) Information __________ > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > http://www.eset.com > -- United against elephant polo http://www.stopelephantpolo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 Reactions of Ms Belinda Wright, Executive Director, WPSI ( Wildlife Protection Society of India ) on Leaky`s views backing the elephant cull. Posted on AAPN after permission from Ms. Wright : _____________ Dear Azam, The problems in Africa are very different from India and I'm afraid I do not know enough about the situation in Africa to respond. I am a great admirer of Dr Leakey, and in particular his remarkable fight to *end *elephant culling in South Africa in the 1980's. At present there is certainly no example here in India where the situation cannot be managed and the evils and tragedy of culling should even be considered. With best wishes, Belinda -- United against elephant polo http://www.stopelephantpolo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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