Germans protest elephant culling law

Dr. Annelie Forbriger, a doctor in Germany, read about South Africa's decision to lift a 13-year moratorium on elephant culling and decided to canvass the support of more than 1000 Germans to oppose it. This resulted in a letter to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism criticising Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk. People for Animal Rights in Germany released the letter in which the signatories say they will not visit South African parks and reserves to "watch animals that may be slaughtered". The letter ask that Van Schalkwyk introduce scientifically approved, reasonable and humane strategies to address possible problems in the few areas where elephants are impacting negatively on local habitats". Mava Scott, spokesman for the department, said culling was a last resort when options including trans-location and migration corridors had failed. No elephants had been culled since these regulations came into effect on May 1.