Azra Hoosen |ah@radioislam.co.za
5 November 2024 | 08:00 CAT
4 min read

The iconic Knysna forest once sheltered a vast elephant herd, but today, only one remains: Strangefoot, a solitary female believed to be the last native elephant in the area. At 50 years old, her survival sparks deep questions about conservation – to reintroduce more elephants or to let Strangefoot continue her solitary existence.

Leading fauna ecologist Lizette Moolman from SANParks’ Garden Route & Frontier Research Unit recently discussed with Radio Islam the crucial decision SANParks now faces regarding the fate of the last known elephant in the region.

Moolman explained that a survey was conducted to understand the public sentiment on the presence of elephants in this area. She said: “To some, it means the sense of place you get when walking in the forest, knowing that there is at least one elephant, and to some, it means a rich, cultural, and historical attachment to this elephant. There is also the ecological aspect for some people because charismatic species such as elephants would be an umbrella species, so if you protect that range, you also protect a host of other species.”

In 2019, a camera-trap study confirmed the presence of this single elephant. According to Moolman, researchers observed streaming on one side of her head, a potential indicator of stress. A subsequent study on stress hormones revealed that her endocrine system was under strain, with fluctuations in stress levels that correlated with human activity nearby. “Her stress levels rose in areas with high human presence, confirming that she is highly sensitive to human encounters,” Moolman added. “She is extremely shy and invasive.”

Moolman noted that they did a preliminary risk assessment with SANParks; however, she stressed that it was not a decision.

“We are currently working to bring some of the best brains on elephant conservation together to discuss the long-term risks of reintroducing elephants,” she said.

She pointed out that some of the risks they have identified include: The lack of fencing in the protected area managed by SANParks, where the native Knysna elephant currently roams. While this lone elephant has adapted to “soft boundaries,” reintroduced elephants may not respect these boundaries and could venture outside the protected area, posing risks to their own safety, human lives, and surrounding infrastructure.

“The important thing to remember is that reintroduced elephants may not behave like this evasive native Kynsna elephant,” she added. Additionally, there are communities living within the elephant’s range, so it’s crucial to consider how these residents might be affected if newly introduced elephants behave differently. “If you do nothing, you have this elephant who knows how to manoeuvre in fynbos and forests, what to eat, and how to respect soft boundaries. How can you give this elephant the opportunity to impart her knowledge and teach another elephant?” she remarked.

Another risk is the possibility that the existing Knysna elephant may not bond with any newly introduced elephants. If the introductions fail and the newcomers need to be relocated, “how fair is it to those elephants who are constantly moved around?” she questioned.

In such a scenario, the native elephant would experience the presence of other elephants, even potentially meeting them, only to have them removed again. This highlights the need for thoughtful, long-term planning and ensuring commitment from both management authorities and those affected daily by the reintroduction efforts.

Moolman noted that survey analysis revealed strong support among people living within and near the elephant range for SANParks to consider reintroducing elephants. However, most stakeholder groups—whether located close to the range or farther away—expressed enthusiasm paired with a request for SANParks to proceed with caution.

One concern is that people living close to the range are unaware of the potential risks of reintroducing elephants. “It could be related to the fact that people have become so used to this Knysna elephant being super evasive and non-problematic; they think this is what elephant presence means, and that is why it is important to now educate the community on the risks deduced by the specialists. That is still a work in progress,” she said.

Moolman disclosed that they hope to reach a decision and complete the long-drawn process by the end of 2025. “We are hoping to have a specialist workshop by early next year. We are busy in the planning process. There are about 30 to 50 different workshops we need to do with the communities that we need to engage with, but we are aiming to have this process done by the end of next year,” she said.

Moolman advised that the best way the public can contribute is by respecting this elephant’s highly elusive nature and avoiding any attempts to approach, photograph, or film her.

LISTEN to the full interview with Muallimah Annisa Essack and Lizette Moolman, Leading fauna ecologist from SANParks’ Garden Route & Frontier Research Unit, here.