Oppose Elephant Killing in South Africa

South Africa's government may soon resume culling elephants, because human encroachment continues to reduce elephant habitat, and authorities blame the resulting human/elephant interactions on "too many elephants." The reality is that elephants are disappearing in Africa, and those who remain are interacting with humans in often-tragic ways, because people are increasingly encroaching upon elephant territory. Please Take Action now to urge South Africa's Minister of Environmental Affairs to oppose the culling of wild elephants and seek real solutions that protect both elephants and human communities.

Also ask your family and friends to take action.

Tell me more

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

I am writing to express my opposition to the "culling" (i.e., killing) of elephants in South Africa as part of the government's new "National Norms and Standards for Elephant Management." With all due respect, I strongly urge you to oppose this cruel and scientifically-deceptive practice.

(Edit Letter Below)

When human encroachment further reduces elephant habitat, governments too often blame the resulting human/elephant interactions on "too many elephants." But there are only about 500,000 elephants left in Africa -- about half of what existed as recently as 1979. That is why the African elephant is still protected by the international CITES treaty and the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which designates the African elephant as "threatened."

South Africa's new standards provide unprecedented new protections for elephants, and I applaud this progressive thinking. But if the country proceeds with elephant culling, its reputation in conservation matters will be severely damaged, as will its tourism industry.

South Africa must focus on real solutions to truly help protect both elephants and human communities, such as the linking of preserves and other land to create "trans-frontier parks" or "megaparks" that expand and connect elephants' migratory ranges and lessen their local impact. I urge you to remove culling as an option for elephant management.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

Take Action on this Issue

Send this message to:

His Excellency Welile Nhlapo
cc: S. Vorster

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