Question NW1307 to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment

Phillips, Ms C to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment

1. Noting the estimated elephant population at the end of 2020 was 31 000 elephants, (a) what is the estimated elephant population at the end of 2021 and (b) how was this estimate arrived at; 2. Noting that the SA National Parks uses sample and/or block counting methods to estimate elephant population size, (a) on what date the last such count conducted to estimate the number of elephants in the Kruger National Park and (b) what are the details of the sample and/or block counting methods used; 3. Whether the sample and/or block counting methods are (a) in accordance with the methods used by neighbouring countries with large elephant populations such as Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe and (b) accepted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature African Elephant Specialist Group; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?