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National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004)

Regulations

National Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa, 2023 - effective 1 April 2023

Annexures

Annexure I : Management plans for wild elephants

 

A management plan for a wild elephant shall contain at least all the following information:

 

Section A.        General information and inventory

 

1. General

 

1.1 Names of owner and manager.
1.2 Postal address.
1.3 Telephone and fax numbers.
1.4 Farm name (including all registered farm names, numbers and portion numbers in the fenced area).
1.5 Precise extent of the property and the specific enclosure where the elephants will be kept.
1.6 Description of the land uses and activities on all neighbouring properties. Description of land uses must be specific such as irrigation farming.
1.7 Name, contact details, qualifications and experience in elephant management of a professional natural scientist or compiler of the plan or person who did the survey.
1.8 Proximity to settlements, rural communities and tribal land.
1.9 Information as to whether there is potential for enlarging the property.
1.10 Specifications of the perimeter fence.
1.11 Financial plan indicating the ability of the owner of the elephants to continuously manage the elephants.

 

2. Ecological

 

2.1 General climatic and hydrological data {e.g. rainfall,temperatures).
2.2 General description of the geology.
2.3 General description of the soils.
2.4 Detailed description of the vegetation.
2.5 Game species and numbers present on property.
2.6 Sensitive habitats and species.
2.7 Disturbed or degraded areas such as bush encroachment and soilerosion.
2.8 Description of all available water bodies and distribution thereof described.
2.9 Maps:
(a) Location map.
(b) Topographic map of property (boundary of farm(s) and camp(s), roads, water points, infrastructure, etc.).
(c) Vegetation communities.

 

Ecological information should be collected and analysed by an ecologist. Methods used should be scientific and described in detail. The scale of the maps should be at least 1-50 000.

 

Section B. Management goals and objectives

 

3. Habitat

 

3.1 Veld condition monitoring methods and time schedules.
3.2 Rehabilitation programme for degraded areas.
3.3 Fire management plan.
3.4 Water provision.
3.5 Population management of other wildlife species.

 

4. Information pertaining to elephants

 

4.1 Purpose of introduced elephant.
4.2 Number of elephants kept or to be introduced,and preferred population size to be maintained.
4.3 Public participation reports,where there is contractual arrangements between the management authority of a protected area and a private land owner(s).
4.4 Specifications for the release camp.
4.5 Interventions to manage elephant population size and elephant impact, and a culling plan if the management intervention involves culling.
4.6 If and how sex and age ratios will be manipulated.
4.7 Measures to prevent poaching.
4.8 Provision for adequate insurance.
4.9 Contingency plans (including contact details of responsible manager, veterinary practitioner and capture operator/s) to deal with—
(a) elephant problems in the case of the fence being unable to contain the elephants, or in the case of an escaped elephant;
(b) elephant problems in the case of the alteration of the habitat beyond acceptable limits; or
(c) the fate of an elephant in the event of the death, insolvency or any other event that impairs the ability of the responsible person to care for the elephant.
4.10 Feeding scheme in case of a natural food supply shortfall.
4.11 Threat analysis and security plan.
4.12 Identification of the long-term population structure in view of the management objectives of the population.

 

Section C Information to be provided after approval for the introduction of elephants, but before a permit may be issued

 

5. Details of the elephants

 

5.1 To the extent possible, the complete translocation history of each individual:
(a) Origin of the elephants (e.g. location, habitat,fencing and size of reserve/farm);
(b) Previous locations where the elephants have been kept; and
(c) The approximate age of the elephants and selection of elephants to be translocated (e.g. exposure to tourists, fences and boma).
5.2 Serial numbers of transponders (microchips) to be inserted where appropriate.
5.3 The management of the capture, transport and keeping in boma (including sedation) of elephants,as well as the name of the acting veterinary practitioner.

 

Two hard copies of the management plan must be submitted to the relevant issuing authority. The applicant will be informed in writing if the plan has been accepted/rejected or if the plan has to be amended.