2010 International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium
January 25-29, 2010
Co-hosted by the International Elephant Foundation and the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
This annual symposium, which is in its tenth year, is a multi-disciplinary meeting attracting elephant enthusiasts from around the world. 2010 Symposium topics included veterinary care to captive management to field conservation, to mitigation of human elephant conflict. Eighteen different countries were represented by 91 participants with many different beliefs, ideas, cultures, education levels and experiences. This symposium is the only such meeting where field conservationists from Asia sit down at the same table as the elephant manager at an African Safari Park, as a veterinarian from the US, as a behavior researcher from Europe. This meeting is for the participants so that they can exchange ideas, network and form partnerships that benefit themselves and the elephants with which they work.
This meeting, being in Africa, involved the largest number of African field conservationists yet to attend an International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium. This meeting also attracted a large number of Asian colleagues and the synergy between the two groups was exciting and resulted in a number of future collaborations between Africa and Asia especially in the area of education and conflict mitigation.
Naturally since the meeting was in Africa, issues such as the legal sale of ivory versus poaching was discussed as well as the human impact on elephant populations such as fencing, artificial water holes and the development of community programs that support and are supported by wildlife. Multiple presentations addressed programs that are successfully assisting people who are living with elephants in Asia including an interesting paper on civil engineering solutions for maintaining elephant corridors. Two sessions dealt with male and female elephant reproduction and recent information on the efficacy of immonocontraception in private reserves in South Africa was presented. The last day of the meeting focused on the management of elephants in human care in Africa and Asia. One very interesting paper by the owner of an elephant back safari operation in South Africa demonstrated how elephants might be used for the detection of illegal ivory caches and land mines.
The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) were wonderful hosts designating the Kwalata Game Ranch as the symposium site. Kwalata Game Ranch provided very comfortable lodging in the midst of a thriving population of wildlife. Before and after sessions, Kwalata Game Ranch offered viewing of the wildlife by vehicle, on foot and by horseback. In addition, the NZG arranged a visit to the zoo for the participants and an evening to sample the culture of the area.
The International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposiums are respected for bringing together people who otherwise would never have a chance to meet; and opening lines of communication and understanding therefore advancing elephant conservation. Participants always look forward to the next symposium which in 2011 is tentatively planned to be in Europe.