South African National Parks (SANParks) marked World Elephant Day 2024 at Kruger National Park, celebrating the country’s success in elephant management through a consultative and scientific approach.

World Elephant Day, observed annually since 2012, highlights the status of elephant management worldwide, focusing on both successes and challenges. This year’s theme, “Evidence-Based Conservation – The Success Story Behind South Africa’s Elephant Management Lessons,” emphasizes the importance of science-driven strategies in maintaining healthy elephant populations.

South Africa’s approach has led to a thriving elephant population of approximately 44,000, a stark contrast to the declining numbers in many other regions affected by ivory poaching, human-elephant conflict, and habitat loss. SANParks manages about 75% of these elephants across five national parks, including Kruger National Park, which is home to around 30,000 elephants.

The success of South Africa’s elephant management lies in habitat management, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and promoting community benefits while preserving ecosystem resilience. Elephants play a crucial role in their ecosystems, but their impact on sensitive habitats requires careful management. Strategies like removing artificial water points and expanding conservation areas have been key in balancing their ecological role.

With elephants increasingly venturing into human-inhabited areas, SANParks is also exploring innovative methods to mitigate human-elephant conflict. These include fencing, creating barriers, setting up deterrents like beehives, and introducing crop insurance and wildlife bonds.

Today’s conservation efforts focus not only on preserving elephant populations but also on maximizing their ecological role while minimizing the impact on people and nature.