Elephants in South Africa remains a huge headache

Park authorities in South Africa have delayed making a decision on ways to curb the exploding elephant population in the Kruger National Park as experts remain divided on the issue, according to a news report on Sunday.

Scientists and managers at South African National Parks have asked for a delay in a report, due to be released at the end of this month, recommending methods to reduce the number of elephant in the park, the Sunday Independent said.

Scientists, wildlife officials and conservationists are divided on how best to deal with the park's 13 000 elephants - more than double the number the area can accommodate.

South Africa has no national management plan for its elephants - the entire population is estimated at about 16 500 - and the report is expected to provide guidance beyond the Kruger. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has welcomed the decision to delay the report, according to the newspaper.

Poaching
Initiatives to translocate some of the large creatures to other parts of the region where the animals have become a rare sight because of war or poaching have been limited. Park officials generally site the high cost and expertise involved in such efforts.

In a separate report, the Sunday Independent said that at least nine elephants were shot - some in front of tourists - in neighbouring Zimbabwe during celebrations to mark the 25th year of independence recently.

Zimbabwean National Parks' scouts reportedly shot four of the animals in an area near the Matusadona National Park for celebrations where the meat was consumed by humans, the report said.