Two African elephant translocations into the Isimangaliso Wetland Park in Kwazulu/ Natal, South Africa – one problematic, the other problem free

Summary

Two elephant introductions to South Africa's iSimangaliso Wetland Park produced sharply different outcomes depending on herd composition. In 2001, 24 elephants, mostly unrelated orphans from Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Park's own troubled orphan-derived population, were translocated; three young bulls escaped through gaps in the boundary fence and had to be recaptured, while the remaining cow-calf group, lacking any experienced matriarchs, suffered severe stress from unfamiliar disturbances including round-the-clock logging operations nearby, resulting in a calf's death from hypoglycemia and, most seriously, two human fatalities from unprovoked aggressive attacks by young, inexperienced females. One attacking female was identified through vehicle paint on her tusks and euthanized. A February 2002 workshop concluded that future translocations should use only intact family units drawn from habituated Kruger National Park stock rather than orphan-derived, socially disrupted herds. Following that recommendation, two complete family groups were translocated from Kruger in June 2002 and June 2003, and this second introduction has experienced no comparable problems. The park's carrying capacity was estimated at 286 elephants, and elephants have since concentrated disproportionately in the western section of the park, raising some concern about uneven ecological impact. Major difficulties included the historical absence of any resident elephant population in the region since 19th-century hunting and the unprecedented nature of translocating an already-once-relocated orphan population. The project rates itself Successful overall, noting that while all defined success indicators were eventually met, the earlier breakouts, mortality and human deaths prevented a Highly Successful rating.