1. Culling of Elephants to Counteract Overpopulation?
Broadcaster: NewsRevue; 2008 CNN Footage!
In this first video, CNN reveals the problem around elephant populations and conservation matters. According to South African authorities, the natural balance of the ecosystem is being upset by elephant overpopulation. The pachyderms uproot trees and destroy the environment, and their increasing numbers in restricted areas means that they either have to be relocated…OR killed (in this case).
Alternatives such as relocation or sterilisation of females, they say, have had very little success!
2. The Other Side of the Picture!
Broadcaster: PachydermPowerNP
Animal Rights Activists have a completely different view on the elephant matter nonetheless. They argue that “elephant overpopulation” is just a pretext in order to sell the animal’s ivory, skin and meat. In other words, business is business! And for the authorities, a dead elephant is almost as good (if not better) than a living one!
Environmentalists also add that there is no scientific evidence that clearly states that the elephants do indeed destroy their habitat!
As you can see, the topic is HIGHLY debatable! While there is probably a bit of truth in both videos, there’s no doubt that the issue will remain problematic for many years to come!
The question is: is there a solution? With the ever increasing pressure of human populations upon their environment, animals and wildlife in general are almost condemned to be restricted in national parks and protected reserves.
What do YOU think? I’d really be curious about your opinion! Remember there are no right or wrong answers here…
Cheers and thanks in advance for your feedback 
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How does it sound to tell someone “Here’s the space we grant you. Stick to it. Spill and we will kill what does.”
How can a constraint imposed in the first place ever make this debatable? Of course there’s a right and wrong answer. The existence of a contrary answer cannot make it legitimate.
Need to take a stand here – in the favour of elephants that is
Thanks for your honest reply Anil! You have an “ecocentric” view my friend, as in: you see the situation through the elephant’s eye! I have nothing against that, that’s great!
In fact, I’d have to +/- agree with you on that one! Just trying to be critical here though…
If you were an anthropocentrist on the other hand, you’d most likely say the opposite! Too many elephants = problematic for humans! Therefore = kill the elephants to get the money, to feed the country, etc.
Remember that there are literally hundreds of problems around this matter: poaching, farmers vs. elephants, casualties (on both ends), etc.
Go and tell a farmer that it’s OK if his field gets trampled by the elephants…am sure he’ll be very happy to hear that
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Anyway, got your point!
To be honest with you, I’m pretty sure the “elephant overpopulation” factor is most likely just an excuse. But hey, I’m not alone on this planet, right?
Cheers, thanks again!
Just found another really interesting article on elephant poaching and the ivory trade in general. You may want to have a look at it here!
[...] animal population can either be contained through sterilization, by relocating it, or by culling/killing it. Unfortunately, in most situations hunting is by far the least expensive and most [...]