S-Africa relocates many elephants in conservation milestone
(MENAFN)
In a landmark conservation achievement, South Africa has successfully relocated 42 elephants within Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. The animals were moved to the Kabouga section of the park between May 12 and 15 as part of an initiative led by South African National Parks (SANParks) to extend the elephants’ habitat and restore ecological balance.
In a landmark conservation achievement, South Africa has successfully relocated 42 elephants within Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. The animals were moved to the Kabouga section of the park between May 12 and 15 as part of an initiative led by South African National Parks (SANParks) to extend the elephants’ habitat and restore ecological balance.
Anban Padayakee, the park’s Conservation Manager, highlighted the precision and care taken during the operation, which involved expert wildlife veterinarians, logistics teams, and conservationists. The elephants were moved in five family groups, including the oldest—a 52-year-old female—and the youngest, a male calf aged just three to four months.
Padayakee emphasized the difficulty of keeping the animals calm throughout the complex process and praised the veterinary team for their success in doing so. He also noted that the knowledge gained will inform future translocation efforts.
Park Manager Roland Januarie, who recently joined Addo, commended the park’s longstanding commitment to elephant conservation. He said this latest operation reflects a broader strategy to maintain biodiversity and enhance the health of ecosystems where elephants have been absent for years.
Elephants are recognized as vital to maintaining their ecosystems due to their role as "ecosystem engineers." Their reintroduction to the Kabouga area is expected to support biodiversity and revive natural ecological processes.
The project received crucial backing from the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa. Taryn Gillson, the fund’s Regional Director for Africa, described the translocation as a major milestone, both in terms of elephant range expansion and broader ecological restoration.
The relocated elephants will be closely monitored as they adjust to their new environment. The operation forms part of SANParks’ wider vision to repair damaged ecosystems through targeted species reintroductions.
SANParks currently oversees 21 national parks, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 10 marine protected areas, covering more than four million hectares of land and nearly 370,000 hectares of ocean territory.
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