National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004)

Regulations

National Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa, 2023 - effective 1 April 2023

Chapter 2 : General Management of Elephants

Part 2 : Management of wild elephants

17. Contraception of wild elephants
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(1)The responsible person undertaking a contraception programme to control the size of a wild elephant population byreducing the rate of reproduction, must take into account that the use of immunocontraceptive vaccines is not effective in providing immediate reduction in the size ofthe elephant population.

 

(2)lmmunocontraceptive  vaccines—
(a)include the use of PZP vaccines;
(b)must be administered by a veterinarian;and
(c)may be applied from the air or from the ground.

 

(3)PZP immunocontracept ive vaccines—
(a)may be used for the purpose of population control in respect of wild female elephants;
(b)can be applied across a broad age range of females; and
(c)does not require sedation or immobilization of target females.

 

(4)GnRH immunocontraceptive vaccines should not be used in respect of wild male or female elephants, untilmore scientific information becomes available.

 

(5)Any causes of non-testosterone aggressive behaviour in wild male elephants should be identified and mitigated.

 

(6)The efficacy and behavioural effects of immunocontraceptive vaccines on individual elephants, breeding units and elephant populations must, to the extent possible, be monitored on an ongoing basis.

 

(7)The responsible person requiring vasectomy procedures to be undertaken in respect of wild elephant bulls must take into account that—
(a)surgical and laparoscopic vasectomies are not effective in providing immediate reduction in the size of the elephant population; and
(b)that all breeding bulls should be treated to prevent unintended breeding.

 

(8)Vasectomies—
(a)are complex,highly invasive and irreversible;
(b)should be considered only in small wild elephant populations where no alternative non-lethal option is feasible; and
(c)must be performed by veterinarians.

 

(9)Side effects of vasectomies on male elephants, and to the extent possible their effects on female elephants, must be monitored on an ongoing basis.