Note to Editors: Please note Hannah Lidgett, MPL sound bite in English
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted written parliamentary questions to KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) regarding the proposed translocation and potential culling of more than 1 000 elephants from provincial reserves.
According to several media reports, up to 1 050 elephants are earmarked for possible removal – with most expected to be relocated and others potentially culled where relocation is not feasible. This raises serious concerns around scientific justification, governance and animal welfare.
The DA’s questions seek clarity on whether this decision is based on credible, peer-reviewed science and site-specific ecological data. We have requested evidence of vegetation loss, biodiversity decline and the modelling used to determine the figure of 1 050 elephants.
The DA is also interrogating compliance with national Norms and Standards for Elephant Management, including whether national authorities have been consulted and whether all decision-making documents will be made publicly available. Transparency of the entire process, in the event that it goes ahead – is essential.
Further, the DA is questioning whether non-lethal alternatives – such as immunocontraception, habitat expansion, and ecological corridors – have been considered. Relocation and culling should not be a default response without addressing underlying ecological pressures. We have also asked whether an independent ethical review has been conducted and what measures will protect elephant welfare during capture, transport, and release.
The DA supports evidence-based conservation that is transparent, scientifically sound and ethically responsible. As a responsible member of KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), we will continue to exercise close oversight of the conservation of our province’s wildlife.