African elephants and contraception

Fayrer-Hosken, R.A.; Grobler, Douw; Altena, J.J. Van; Bertschinger, H.J.; Kirkpatrick, Jay F.

doi:10.1038/35081156

Cited by 16 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In some cases, human–elephant conflict results from habitat compression and fragmentation, and the broader issues of habitat loss and land‐use planning need to be tackled. In other cases, human–elephant conflict is a result of natural population growth and options such as translocations or use of immunocontraceptives should be investigated (Fayrer‐Hosken & Bertschinger, ). However, since we entered the Anthropocene era, most human–elephant conflict is the result of encroachment by people into traditional elephant ranges and migration routes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shift of paradigm needed towards improving human–elephant coexistence in monoculture landscapes in Sabah

Othman

Goossens

Cheah³

et al. 2019

International Zoo Yearbook

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This article outlines the contemporary situation of the Bornean elephant Elephas maximus borneensis in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo), and focuses on the existing challenges that need to be addressed to enable people and elephants to coexist, particularly in man‐made landscapes dominated by oil‐palm plantations. Bornean elephants are confined mostly to Sabah, to the north‐east 5% of the Borneo Island. Sabah started to expand its commercial plantation sector in the early 1980s and is the largest producer of palm oil in Malaysia, contributing c. 10% of global output for this commodity. The rapid pace of plantation expansion has resulted in the loss of the majority of lowland areas that are also needed by large mammal species to sustain breeding populations. Elephants are extreme lowland/floodplain specialists, and they still attempt to use their former and preferred habitat, which is now mostly dominated by oil‐palm plantations. At the time of writing, the land‐use planning system favoured by the government insufficiently incorporates the ecological and management needs for elephants across the entire landscape. This article also highlights the need for better collaboration and coordination between stakeholders to address the increasing rate of human–elephant conflicts in Sabah.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shift of paradigm needed towards improving human–elephant coexistence in monoculture landscapes in Sabah

Othman

Goossens

Cheah³

et al. 2019

International Zoo Yearbook

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show abstract

“…Of these methods, immunocontraception with the porcine zona pellucida (pZP) vaccine has been demonstrated to be the most successful and practical for use in herds or groups of animals [2][3][4][5][6]12,14,16 and could be used as an alternative to culling for African elephants. Work on the use of pZP to provide contraception for African elephants was started in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in 1995 11,12,15 . After an initial immunohistochemistry study, which proved the potential of the vaccine to effectively provide contraception for elephant cows 10 , the vaccine was employed in 2 field trials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing immunocontraception in free-ranging African elephants at Makalali Conservancy

Delsink¹,

Altena²,

Grobler³

et al. 2007

J. S. Afr. Vet. Assoc.

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The goal of programmes to provide contraception for elephants should be to formulate an approach that does not require the relocation or immobilisation of the same individual year after year, which would be long-lasting and cause minimal disruption to social and reproductive behaviour. The programmes should be simple to administer, safe and cost-effective, and must meet the objectives defined by managers in the field. An immunocontraceptive programme was initiated in a small free-roaming population of elephants at the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve in Limpopo Province in 2000 to determine whether the porcine zona pellucida (pZP) vaccine can successfully control population sizes. Further objectives were to determine implementation costs and efficiency through a multi-faceted approach. We have demonstrated that immunocontraception meets the objectives set by managers in the field. Minimal social disruption was observed over the course of treatment, with the mode of delivery (ground or aerial vaccinations) determining the degree of stress within herds and speed of resumption of normal movement patterns. Aerial vaccinations resulted in the least disturbance, with target herds being approachable within a day. In 2005, implementation costs were R880-R1000 / elephant / year, inclusive of darts, vaccine, helicopter and veterinary assistance. Irrespective of the source or method of vaccine delivery, a non-pregnant elephant is rendered infertile from 1st vaccine administration. The sooner immunocontraception is implemented, the sooner population growth rates can be controlled. pZP contraception is a realistic alternative management tool, particularly if used as part of a long-termmanagement strategy. Mass-darting from the air eliminates the need for detailed individual histories of each elephant or for employing a person to monitor elephants. Thus, implementation of immunocontraception in larger populations is feasible and practical

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Biodiversity and Environmental Philosophy

Sarkar

2005

178

110

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This book explores the epistemological and ethical issues at the foundations of environmental philosophy, emphasising the conservation of biodiversity. Sahota Sarkar criticises attempts to attribute intrinsic value to nature and defends an anthropocentric position on biodiversity conservation based on an untraditional concept of transformative value. Unlike other studies in the field of environmental philosophy, this book is as much concerned with epistemological issues as with environmental ethics. It covers a broad range of topics, including problems of explanation and prediction in traditional ecology and how individual-based models and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology is transforming ecology. Introducing a brief history of conservation biology, Sarkar analyses the consensus framework for conservation planning through adaptive management. He concludes with a discussion of directions for theoretical research in conservation biology and environmental philosophy.

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African elephants and contraception

Cited by 16 publications

References 3 publications

Shift of paradigm needed towards improving human–elephant coexistence in monoculture landscapes in Sabah

Shift of paradigm needed towards improving human–elephant coexistence in monoculture landscapes in Sabah

Implementing immunocontraception in free-ranging African elephants at Makalali Conservancy

Biodiversity and Environmental Philosophy

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