A management plan for a wild elephant shall contain at least all the following information:
Section A. General information and inventory
1.1 | Names of owner and manager. |
1.3 | Telephone and fax numbers. |
1.4 | Farm name (including all registered farm names, numbers and portion numbers in the fenced area). |
1.5 | Precise extent of the property and the specific enclosure where the elephants will be kept. |
1.6 | Description of the land uses and activities on all neighbouring properties. Description of land uses must be specific such as irrigation farming. |
1.7 | Name, contact details, qualifications and experience in elephant management of a professional natural scientist or compiler of the plan or person who did the survey. |
1.8 | Proximity to settlements, rural communities and tribal land. |
1.9 | Information as to whether there is potential for enlarging the property. |
1.10 | Specifications of the perimeter fence. |
1.11 | Financial plan indicating the ability of the owner of the elephants to continuously manage the elephants. |
2.1 | General climatic and hydrological data {e.g. rainfall,temperatures). |
2.2 | General description of the geology. |
2.3 | General description of the soils. |
2.4 | Detailed description of the vegetation. |
2.5 | Game species and numbers present on property. |
2.6 | Sensitive habitats and species. |
2.7 | Disturbed or degraded areas such as bush encroachment and soilerosion. |
2.8 | Description of all available water bodies and distribution thereof described. |
(b) | Topographic map of property (boundary of farm(s) and camp(s), roads, water points, infrastructure, etc.). |
(c) | Vegetation communities. |
Ecological information should be collected and analysed by an ecologist. Methods used should be scientific and described in detail. The scale of the maps should be at least 1-50 000.
Section B. | Management goals and objectives |
3.1 | Veld condition monitoring methods and time schedules. |
3.2 | Rehabilitation programme for degraded areas. |
3.5 | Population management of other wildlife species. |
4. | Information pertaining to elephants |
4.1 | Purpose of introduced elephant. |
4.2 | Number of elephants kept or to be introduced,and preferred population size to be maintained. |
4.3 | Public participation reports,where there is contractual arrangements between the management authority of a protected area and a private land owner(s). |
4.4 | Specifications for the release camp. |
4.5 | Interventions to manage elephant population size and elephant impact, and a culling plan if the management intervention involves culling. |
4.6 | If and how sex and age ratios will be manipulated. |
4.7 | Measures to prevent poaching. |
4.8 | Provision for adequate insurance. |
4.9 | Contingency plans (including contact details of responsible manager, veterinary practitioner and capture operator/s) to deal with— |
(a) | elephant problems in the case of the fence being unable to contain the elephants, or in the case of an escaped elephant; |
(b) | elephant problems in the case of the alteration of the habitat beyond acceptable limits; or |
(c) | the fate of an elephant in the event of the death, insolvency or any other event that impairs the ability of the responsible person to care for the elephant. |
4.10 | Feeding scheme in case of a natural food supply shortfall. |
4.11 | Threat analysis and security plan. |
4.12 | Identification of the long-term population structure in view of the management objectives of the population. |
Section C | Information to be provided after approval for the introduction of elephants, but before a permit may be issued |
5. | Details of the elephants |
5.1 | To the extent possible, the complete translocation history of each individual: |
(a) | Origin of the elephants (e.g. location, habitat,fencing and size of reserve/farm); |
(b) | Previous locations where the elephants have been kept; and |
(c) | The approximate age of the elephants and selection of elephants to be translocated (e.g. exposure to tourists, fences and boma). |
5.2 | Serial numbers of transponders (microchips) to be inserted where appropriate. |
5.3 | The management of the capture, transport and keeping in boma (including sedation) of elephants,as well as the name of the acting veterinary practitioner. |
Two hard copies of the management plan must be submitted to the relevant issuing authority. The applicant will be informed in writing if the plan has been accepted/rejected or if the plan has to be amended.