Last resort: Deputy Minister Narend Singh says provinces will have to provide scientific evidence of why any of the other options are not applicable. Photo: DFFE
Deputy Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Narend Singh has insisted that elephant culling in South Africa will remain a “last resort”.
But MPs and animal welfare groups warned that official delays, weak governance and failures to implement humane alternatives are creating the conditions that could later be used to justify it.
“Culling is one of the options but it is a last resort option,” Singh told parliament’s portfolio committee on forestry, fisheries and the environment last week. “Provinces will have to provide scientific evidence of why any of the other options are not applicable in their respective provinces.”
His remarks came amid mounting concern over elephant management crises in the Madikwe Game Reserve and parts of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, where rising elephant numbers and drought pressure have intensified scrutiny of provincial authorities.
