THE shooting of a female elephant in the Hoarusib River in the Kunene Region has alarmed conservationists and scientists about the future of the desert-dwelling jumbos.
The poaching is being investigated by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Protected Resources Unit of the Namibian Police. The carcass was found by tour guides in the Hoarusib River, four kilometres downriver from the Purros settlement, on Sunday, September 11.
The deputy Director of Wildlife Management at the ministry, Colgar Sikopo, said the “investigation is a difficult one”. He said at least two bullets killed the young female and it is unclear whether the motivation was self-defence or poaching.
Sources in the tourist sector claim that the elephant was found with between four and six bullet wounds.
The death of the elephant comes only weeks after another female was killed by Government officials. The tuskless female was declared a problem animal following a fatal attack on a Spanish tourist at the Purros Conservancy rest camp.
A source in the tourist trade said the tragic event was not surprising.
He said during this time of the year, the tourism high season, “elephants are under continuous pressure” from the large number of tourists who travel through the area. He said the particular group of elephants were “disturbed by the self-drives which caused them to get agitated”.
The shooting of the female sub-adult only a few weeks later has sparked concern that the drastic reduction of breeding females could permanently harm the chances of the desert elephants to thrive in the Kunene Region.
A tour guide, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said there are now only 12 or fewer breeding females left in the area.
“It is hugely concerning and really puts elephant conservation back a great deal. I’m not sure it’s even a viable population any longer.”
Sikopo dismissed these concerns, however, and said the ministry is not worried about the “sex ratio ... right now”. He said the number one concern is “the killing of an elephant in this manner”.
Sikopo said it is critical that the investigation continues and that a culprit is apprehended. He said there “is no reason to panic at this stage” but the ministry will keep a close eye on the area and will take action if similar illegal incidents continue.
Research published in the scientific journal pachydermjournal.org this year highlighted the danger a sudden decrease in breeding females could have on the Kunene desert elephants.
Research showed that around 70 elephants occupied the Hoarusib River in the late 1970s.
Between 1975 and 1979 the elephant population declined drastically due to poaching. By 2009, it was estimated only 14 adult female elephants remained in the Kunene Region spanning the Hoarusib and Hoanib rivers.
The researchers said due to their adaptation to desert conditions, the reproduction rates of these elephants are abnormally low for African elephants.
Between January 2002 and November 2009 only 12 calves were born to the population, of which four died within the first year. With the death of two females in the past month, the female breeding population is extremely vulnerable, and subsequently, the desert elephant population in the region too.
The report, which was published in January 2011, noted that “from a conservation perspective, at the current size and rate of increase it is doubtful that this desert sub-population will soon recover to what it was in the 1960s, prior to extensive poaching”.
The Purros Conservancy in the Kunene Region made headlines earlier this year, when three lionesses were poisoned there by unknown persons. The lionesses were the last remaining members of a unique desert-adapted lion pride.
That investigation is still ongoing and there are no indications that the ministry or the Police are close to finding out who the perpetrators were or what poison was used.
No comments:
Post a Comment