Animal welfare groups in South Africa are pushing back against a local government plan to allow culling and trophy hunting to reduce elephant numbers in Madikwe Game Reserve.   According to the North West Parks and Tourism Board, which oversees the 75,000-hectare (185,000-acre) wildlife conservation area in the country’s north, the elephant herd has grown too large. More than 1,600 elephants now live in Madikwe, more than triple the planned capacity of 500. “Population reduction strategies will include both culling applied together with contraception at least,” board CEO Jonathan Denga told Mongabay by text message. Animal welfare NGO Humane World for Animals told Mongabay its offer to introduce contraception at Madikwe has been repeatedly postponed since 2020, and still hasn’t been implemented. Denga also suggested the board is open to relocating elephants to other conservation areas. “We will not preclude any requests for live elephants should anyone come to the fore and they have adequately suited habitats,” he said. In 2024, 75 elephants died from starvation amid the region’s worst drought in a century, sparking concerns over the park’s management. But the proposed solution to kill more elephants, which Denga called a “realistic” option, has intensified criticisms. In a July statement, the board said it wouldn’t “be driven by emotions or agendas that seek to keep South Africa and our province in the economic doldrums.” Revenue from hunting and culling would be reverted back into the reserve, it added. South Africa’s largest animal welfare organization, NSPCA, condemned the plan, saying…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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