| (1) | Culling may be used to reduce the size of an elephant population subject to the following conditions: |
| (a) | culling may be used only after all other population management options referred to in paragraph 15, have been appropriately considered, evaluated and rejected; |
| (b) | culling may be undertaken only in terms of an approved culling plan; |
| (c) | an elephant may not be culled if it is part of a social unit, unless the entire social unit, including the matriarch, calves and all juveniles, is culled; |
| (d) | culling must be done with— |
| (i) | quick and humane methods; and |
| (ii) | in the case that a rifle is used— |
| (aa) | the rifle must be a minimum calibre of .375 H&H inches; and |
| (bb) | the bullet must be of a solid construction, with a minimum weight of 286 grains; and |
| (e) | the use of suxamethonium (Scoline) is prohibited. |
| (2) | The responsible person must— |
| (a) | prepare the culling plan contemplated in subparagraph (1)(b) with the assistance of a professional natural scientist who has adequate knowledge and experience in matters relating to elephant management; and |
submit the culling plan to the relevant issuing authority—
| (i) | as part of the management plan referred to in paragraph 6; or |
| (ii) | as an annexure to the approved management plan, |
for approval.
| (3) | The culling plan contemplated in subparagraph (1)(b) must— |
| (a) | contain the following information relating to the culling operation— |
| (i) | evidence that the actual or projected elephant numbers at a specific location are incompatible with the agreed land use objectives set out in the management plan and that a reduction in population numbers is therefore necessary; |
| (ii) | evidence that all other population management options referred to in paragraph 15 have been rejected by the professional natural scientist referred to in subparagraph (2)(a) after appropriate consideration and evaluation; |
| (iii) | proposed number of elephants to be culled; |
| (iv) | proposed method of animal selection; |
| (vi) | proposed culling methods; and |
| (vii) | intended use of products; and |
| (b) | set out the conditions under which culling will take place and the manner in which the cull will be implemented. |
