Knysna Elephant Park
The last Knysna elephant is still alive in the Knysna Elephant Park and since confirmation of her presence, SANParks, under whose aegis management of the Knysna forest and fynbos falls, will embark on evidence-based future management with regards to the elephant/s, (not all Knysna elephants), in the area. There used to be 1000 elephants in the area, of which 400 were Knysna elephants, but these have now been decimated through ivory trade and trophy hunting.
Sociological and ecological assessments were undertaken to ensure a holistic approach to, not only other pachyderms in the area, but especially the elusive and last female of the original Knysna elephant herd.
History of the Gentle Giants
These elusive Knysna giants have always garnered huge interest and are even immortalised in the award-winning, bestseller by late South African author Dalene Matthee, Kringe in die Bos (translated into English –Circles in a Forest. Ms Matthee based much of her book on this last female elephant.
The Knysna Museum boasts an excellent and informative section on these elephants, of which many used to roam in the bush in the 1930’s. Unfortunately, they are now extinct with only this last female left. The shooting of these unique creatures already started in 1782 when French explorer and naturalist, Francois le Vaillant, spent six months in the Garden Route, (Outeniqualand in those days), to catalogue its plants and animals, fishes and insects. Sadly, he was also the first person to shoot one of the elephants of the area (at Die Poort, between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna).
After that, they did not stand much of a chance and today this lone female is the only one left of the original herd of 400 which roamed the area, not only the forest.
SANParks Intervention
A targeted survey was conducted as part of the sociological assessment, with a response rate of 74% of the 500 contacts made. Results of the study support the introduction of more elephants to the Garden Route elephant range while many recognised that the complexity of the situation required expert input.
Those respondents favouring the re-introduction of elephants in the Knysna forest cited reasons ranging from ecological, cultural and historical values but cautioned against commercial interest. Most respondents opined that there should be a cautious management approach, informed by inputs from elephant specialists, followed by landowners and conservation authorities.
The ecological studies examined the elephant’s physiological condition, behaviour in response to human activities, identification of potential human-wildlife conflict areas, as well as understanding the reason behind the demise of the elephant population in the area. These assessments supported the evidence of only one female elephant in the forest area and confirmed the extent of her feeding range.
Different stress hormone levels found in the female elephant’s dung indicated that her hormone system is functioning well and in areas with low human presence, her stress hormone levels were low. Camera trap footage showed her to be relaxed while in high human-use areas or events, but where she was being followed by humans, the stress hormones in her dung were high. This aligned with her movement and behavioural patterns showing avoidance of areas with a higher likelihood of human presence and contact. It was decided that both the social and ecological studies should support low-risk management options cautious of minimal-disturbance as well as acknowledgement that any management option should be informed by experts.
Difference between Knysna Elephants and Other Pachyderms
The Knysna elephants were the relicts of once substantial herds of African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the Outeniqua/Tsitsikamma region of southernmost South Africa. As of 2022, the herds have been reduced to a lone adult female.
The elephant herds roamed the southern tip of Africa into the 1800’s and 1900’s, when contact with European farmers and hunters led to their decimation. It is conjectured that about 1,000 elephants historically roamed the Outeniqua/Tsitsikamma area. A 2006 DNA analysis of dung samples revealed the presence of at least 5 cows and possibly some bulls and calves, moving within an area of 121,000 hectares of forest managed by SANParks – the only unfenced elephant group in South Africa. However, by 2019, researchers realised that a mature female at the Knysna Elephant Park in the Knysna Forest was the last Knysna elephant to survive.
After weeks of tracking, film-maker Ryan Davy has captured breath taking pictures of Knysna forest’s last and elusive surviving Knysna Elephant cow (above image). It was reported in Daily Maverick in 2023. Field Rangers call her Oupoot, the Matriarch, or Strangefoot. For most people, she has always been a ghost or a rumour, maybe a grainy image on surveillance footage taken in the forest.
Note: Information on this project supplied by SANParks Communications Department. All other information sourced by author.
