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

16. Establishment of new populations of wild elephants

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(1)	A new population of wild elephants may be established by the—

(a)	translocation of a social unit to an extensive wildlife system, from an existing population of wild elephants; or

(b)	introduction of captive elephants into an extensive wildlife system, provided that such introduction and rehabilitation of the elephants at the new destination are done under the supervision of a person who has adequate experience in the rehabilitation of elephants.

(2)	A new population of wild elephants may be established subject to the following the prior assessment of the extensive wildlife system where the new population is to be introduced—

(a)	to ensure that it meets the spatial requirement, and most of the other ecological requirements, of the population to be established; and

(i)	to ensure that it meets the spatial requirement, and most of the other ecological requirements, of the population to be established; and

(ii)	to ensure the safety and security of the population to be introduced;

(b)	adequate enclosure in terms of paragraph 9;

(c)	stipulation of the initial population structures, taking into account—

(i)	matriarchal society of the animals;

(ii)	the initial population should be a social unit; and

(iii)

that adult bulls may be introduced—

(aa)	first, but only if a social unit is intended to be introduced subsequent to the successful establishment of the bull;

(bb)	once the social unit has successfully established a home range, or

(cc)	at the same time as introducing the social unit;

(e)	written notification of the intended establishment to adjacent landowners , communities and any other person who may be directly affected by the intended establishment and requesting written comments within a period of thirty days; and

(f)	the issuing of a permit by the relevant issuing authority.