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

Annexures

Annexure III : Security - when dealing with wild elephants

Purchase

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1.	Elephants are wild animals and can be very dangerous if not treated with respect and caution.

2.	The responsibility of safe encounters with elephant lies entirely in the hands of responsible persons and the field guides.

3.	High standards of guest and staff safety should be maintained at all times.

4.	Guides should be adequately qualified and experienced to protect the guests.

5.	The following are recommended specifically :

5.1	All tourist facilities and amenities should be ring fenced with an electric fence, so should staff villages ;

5.2	Where river frontage occurs an electrified cabled fence must be erected to keep elephant out of tourist camps;and

5.3	Fencing of sewage ponds and rubbish pits with electrified fence.

6.	Regarding vehicles, the following is recommended:

6.1	Expanded mesh should be attached to vehicles to at least cover the height of the legs of guests and doors must be present in the cab to protect the driver and his passenger;

6.2	All vehicles must be reliable and in a good running mechanical condition and be fitted with adequate spare wheels and repair kits;

6.3	Functional radios are essential;

6.4	Well-prepared emergency action plan;

6.5	When guests drive on their own the following should be supplied:

6.5.1

Information on the potential dangers of elephants (i.e. cows with calves);

6.5.2

Information on how to identify, approach and behave near bulls in musth: and

6.5.3

Strict regulations of how to behave near wild elephants:

(a)	Not to drive off road;

(b)	Not to follow the elephants;

(c)	To respect the elephants at all times;

(d)	To always allow them the right of way;

(e)	To drive off slowly if they get too near;

(f)	Not to cut off their path especially when more than one vehicle present;

(g)	Not unnecessarily increase the noise emitted by the motor vehicle engine; and

(h)	Not to leave the vehicle.