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South Africa Donates Elephants to Angola
September 04, 2000

Introduction:

The North West Parks and Tourism Board is donating approximately 30 elephants to Angola. The Kissama Foundation, mandated by the Angolan government to rehabilitate the country's national parks, will take delivery of the animals at the end of the week. Two family groups will be captured in the Madikwe Game Reserve and relocated in the Quicama National Park near Luanda in Angola. In the 25 years of civil strife, there has never been any fighting in the area.

Operation Noah's Ark:

This week's relocation is the first phase of a larger resettlement programme (named Operation Noahs' Ark) of several wildlife species over the next five years to Quicama. The park of 1.2 million hectare is almost devoid of wildlife.

Support for Project:

The Kissama Foundation consulted conservation bodies such as CITES (Conv. Int. Trading Endangered Species), EMOA (Elephant Mngr Owners Assoc.) and the IUCN and have their support for the project.

NW Parks & Tourism Board's Donation Objective:

The NW Parks& Tourism Board objective in relation to this donation should be seen in the South African context whereby we have pledged to support the development of the whole of Southern Africa. In this instance, support for Angola, a country at a turning point in the revitalisation of its economy after the civil war. Angola wants to rejuvenate its economy through among other things - conservation based tourism.

The Relocation Team:

The capture team is made up of highly qualified and experienced South African capture and translocation specialists. It is headed by a private veterinarian and wildlife specialist, Dr. Kobus du Toit.

The Relocation Process - A First:

The elephants, to be captured on the 8th and 10th of September, will be taken directly to Quicama on two cargo flights from Mafikeng International Airport in the North West Province. They will be transported in specially designed containers that will secure the adults - but allow the young to move freely inside these containers. It will be the first time that family groups will be transported by air.

Resource Security Measures - Quicama nat. park:

The elephants will be released into an area of 20 000 hectare in Quicama, secured by an electric fence and trained game guards. The animals will be monitored 24 hours a day by a research team consisting of biologists and radio tracking specialists. R 2 million is earmarked for security.

The Kissama Foundation:

The Kissama Foundation was founded in 1996 by a group of South Africans and Angolans concerned about the conservation of Angola's natural resources and the state of its national parks. Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is the patron of the Foundation and Prof. Wouter van Hoven of the University of Pretoria and the Head of the Angolan Defence Force, General Joao Baptiste de Matos, co-presidents of Kissama.

Research - Centre for Wildlife Mngt.:

Researchers from the University of Pretoria's Centre for Wildlife Management participated in formalising a viable ecological management plan for Quicama. A five year development plan for the Park has now been finalised.

The entire project is sponsored by Angolan and South African business.

MEDIA INVITATION

Representatives of local and international news media are invited to:

A compulsory briefing on media regulations & registration for access at the Mafikeng Int. Airport - at the Mmabatho Tusk Hotel in Mafikeng at 18h30 on 8 September 2000.

A media briefing on the relocation of the elephants - to be held at the Mafikeng International Airport at 21h00 on 8 September.

After the media briefing, media representatives will be able to observe/cover the loading of the animals into the plane.

Please inform Renette Volckmar of NWPTB before 16h00 on 6 September of attendance.

Please inform Marius Kleynhans of KF before 16h00 on 6 September if you want to make use of bus transport from Pretoria to Mafikeng on Friday and back on Saturday (only 15 seats available). The bus will depart from the Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, Experimental Farm at 13h00 and will return early on Saturday morning.

The Mmabatho Tusk Hotel at Mafikeng is offering accommodation at reduced prices to visiting media representatives. Kindly make reservations direct - at your own expense by calling (018) 3891111.

A small media pool has been put together to cover the capture and release of the elephants. Copies of video clips and photographs as well as written reports will be available to all media on Saturday night/Sunday morning and on Sunday afternoon/evening.

RELEASED ON BEHALF OF: THE NW PARKS & TOURISM BOARD & THE KISSAMA FOUNDATION

CONTACTS:

Renette Volckmar, NW Parks & Tourism Board
Telephone 018.386.1225
Fax 018.386.1158
Cell 082-801-1223
volckmar@nwpg.org.za

Marius Kleynhans
Kissama Foundation
Telephone 011.888.2872
Cell 083-627-0906