Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)
Sustainability of Elephant Hunting Across International Borders in Southern Africa: A Case Study of the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
Poaching of African Savanna Elephants for ivory is a major cause of individual death and population decline (Wittemyer et al. 2014, Thouless et al. 2016). After a sustained period of intense poaching between the late 1970s and 1989, many African Savanna Elephant populations (e.g., in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda) experienced two to three decades of recovery. Data collected as a part of the CITES Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants programme (MIKE), indicate that poaching significantly intensified across the continent starting in 2008 and peaking in 2011 – an unsustainably high level of poaching has continued into current times in some areas of the continent (CITES 2018, 2019), and may be increasing in some of the historically less-affected southern African populations (CITES 2018, 2019). Rapid land use change by humans is driving the direct loss and fragmentation of habitat for African Savanna Elephants and is an increasing threat to populations across their range; Reported increase in human elephant conflict.
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Loxodonta africana
Common Name(s)
African Elephant
African Savanna Elephant
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?
Unknown/not recorded
Purpose of Use
Recreational
Population/area management
Additional Details (if available)
The aim of allocating hunting quotas in terms of problem animal control laws are to deter elephants from entering communal areas and to compensate local communities for damage to crops and property;
What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?
Currently, no common policy exits in quota setting for cross-border species, and each country determines their own quota based on limited data. however, there is no single multi-jurisdictional (cross-border) management authority regulating the hunting of elephant
Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
Site Description
spread across the junction of Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The GMTFCA is situated at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo Rivers and includes areas from Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
National external (individual, groups. e.g., hunters, anglers, photographers, tourists)
International external (individual, groups. e.g., hunters, anglers, photographers, tourists)
If more than one box ticked, please provide more details
mix of trophy hunting by tourists and hunting by local communities for population management.
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is negatively affecting the status (e.g., population is declining; extraction effort is increasing)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Details of assessment carried out
At current rates of hunting, under average ecological conditions, trophy bulls will disappear from the population in less than 10 years.
When considering that the majority of mating in an elephant population is done by bulls >35 years old (Poole 1989, Hollister-Smith et al. 2007), and that loosing these bulls can lead to social problems (Slotow et al. 2000), the maximum sustainable yield for social stability within the study area was predicted by the VORTEX model to be about 10 bulls >35 years old per annum. The current levels of trophy hunting are thus unsustainable and far exceed the MSY of the population.
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
the absence of older bulls, young bulls increase the frequency and duration of their musth period (Slotow et al. 2000). Abnormal behaviors in these young males, such as elevated aggression, killing people, and killing white rhino (Ceratotherium sinum sinum) have been the result of distorted male age hierarchies
the absence of older bulls, young bulls increase the frequency and duration of their musth period (Slotow et al. 2000). Abnormal behaviors in these young males, such as elevated aggression, killing people, and killing white rhino (Ceratotherium sinum sinum) have been the result of distorted male age hierarchies
Other Socio-Economic Impacts
Excessive hunting will therefore affect photographic tourism within the Limpopo Valley through significantly reduced numbers of big bulls, and could affect the chances of viewing elephants in general
Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Strong community governance/institutions/rights for wildlife management
Present
Supportive policy and legislative framework
Absent
Good alignment of legal protections with local cultural values and traditional
Absent
High financial returns from use
Present
Biological characteristics of target species
Present
Establishment and implementation of species and/or area management plan
Selier, S.-A.J., Page, B.R., Vanak, A.T. and Slotow, R. (2014), Sustainability of elephant hunting across international borders in southern Africa: A case study of the greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area. Jour. Wild. Mgmt., 78: 122-132. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.641
Hunting of bulls had a direct effect in reducing bull numbers but also an indirect effect due to disturbance that resulted in movement of elephants out of the areas in which hunting occurred. the elimination of older bulls from elephant populations may negatively affect social cohesion in bull elephant groups
Threats/pressures impacting the species at the scale of this record