Elephant Management: A Scientific Assessment for South Africa

Elephants are among the most magnificent—but also most problematic—members of South Africa’s wildlife population. While they are sought after by tourists, they also have a major impact on their environment. As a result, elephant management has become a highly complex and often controversial discipline. The South African Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism convened a round table to advise him on this issue, which the round table recommended that a scientific assessment of elephant management be undertaken to gather, evaluate and present all the relevant information on the topic. Its main findings and recommendations are contained in this volume. Elephant Management is the first book of its kind, combining the work of more than 60 national and international experts. Extensively reviewed by policy-makers and other stakeholders, it is the most systematic and comprehensive review of savannah elephant populations and factors relevant to managing them to date. As such it is of interest to a broad spectrum of readers in South Africa and elsewhere. Above all, it is aimed at helping conservation policy-makers and practitioners to choose the best possible options for the sustainable preservation of these iconic animals.