Comments on: Elephant – abundant and endangered species.

By: Tana Khaki

Tana Khaki — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:30:26 +0000

Just seeing the elephants move as a family makes my day.Thanks for the information.

By: Safari Tanzania

Safari Tanzania — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 08:22:24 +0000

Elephants amongst other African animals such as lions, both black and white rhino and African wild dogs are all facing extinction. These animals need to stop being killed and need to be conserved, its now or never.

By: jamesh

jamesh — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:34:28 +0000

Hi Tess,
In an ideal world we would certainly remove all original human management techniques including fences end artificial water etc.

We can’t really remove elephants to where they belong as you suggest because there are no places where humans are not. We have to somehow find a balance. Like you hint – nature probably knows best so we should probably stop all interventions. Like I say, this might result in die-offs which might be natural but also very difficult to watch.

Thanks so much for your post. If you have any other opinions you’d like to share, please go ahead.

James

By: tess

tess — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 10:43:17 +0000

Human interventios were already made to help the elephants grow their number.Can we just transfer them to where they should belong; to their real habitat and to their real world where they can live freely as before?

By: african safari

african safari — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:49:21 +0000

Elephants one of huge creature on the earth is in its way towards EXTINCTION!!
The huge demand for ivory and the capture of their natural habitat by human beings have been the major factor in their endangerment.Sine they eat so much,they need a large amount of space. Humans have become their direct competitors for living space.
The experiment which you are thinking to some extent is good.

By: JamesH

JamesH — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:43:56 +0000

Hi Nestor,

Interesting question.

The way I see it is that humans are part of nature. It is impossible to consider an area free of human influence in the same way as it’s impossible to consider African savannah environments free of the influence of elephants. We have occupied various parts of this continent for nearly 200 000 years and our ancestors 2 million before that. We have to live together.

Perhaps we should let nature take its course – I agree, nature does seem to know best. As I mention in the blog, this might be difficult for us to watch if it involves a natural process of die-off.

Thanks for your contribution.

By: nestor perez

nestor perez — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:28:48 +0000

is there a place? or are there places in Africa? where elephants can live freely in their own natural ways? i mean… without human intervention. nature knows best for them.

By: jamesh

jamesh — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:16:43 +0000

Hi Animal Amy,

Indeed there have being studies saying as much. For example, why should Botswana have to pay the price for globally endangered elephants when their landscape may be suffering?

If you are interested, you could have a look at the following references:
Ellis, S. 1994. Of elephants and men: politics and nature conservation in South Africa. Journal of Southern African Studies. 20(1), pp. 53 – 69.

van Aarde R, J. 2007. Megaparks for metapopulations: Addressing the causes of locally high elephant numbers in southern Africa. Biological conservation. 134, pp. 289 – 297.

Thanks for your comment!

By: Animal Amy

Animal Amy — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:29:40 +0000

Oops!
That should have been “too” not “two”.

By: Animal Amy

Animal Amy — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:29:14 +0000

The problem, as you said, is not that there are two many elephants, but too many in the wrong places.

Similar issue with human beings, actually.