In the early 1930’s South Africa’s Addo Elephant Park was founded to save the last 11 elephants in the region. That aspect of conservation has been a success as the park is now home to about 600 African elephants either (Loxodonta africana or L. cyclotis and many other species. But challenges remain as the park’s wetlands appear to be under threat.
Addo Elephant Park is the third largest of South Africa’s 20 national parks. It covers 633 square miles. In contrast, Yellowstone National Park in the United States covers more than 3,000 square miles.
Addo is densely populated with wildlife, including, leopards, lions and water buffalo. It is adjacent to a rich marine ecosystem with right whales, penguins and great white sharks. There are plans to combine the existing park with the marine element and a flora rich area close by.
But Ado’s wetlands are under threat.
According to the website the Conversation:
“The Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa was established 94 years ago to protect the last 11 elephants in the Eastern Cape region. Since then, the reserve has expanded to 155,000 hectares and today it’s home to lions, leopards, rhino, buffalo and more than 600 elephants. It also has 16 rivers and 437 wetlands. Freshwater scientists Nancy Job and Dirk Roux were part of a team who co-authored the South African National Parks and South African National Biodiversity Institute’s first ever inventory of the park’s rivers and wetlands. With an inventory in place, the park is better placed to conserve wetlands for South Africa and plan for the future“
Specific threats to the wetlands exist and are being assessed as the park moves into the future.
Elephants around the world are under threat. African elephants face both habitat loss and poaching.
Meanwhile their Asian cousins (Elephas Maximus) are another source of concern. They have been accidentally eating increasing amounts of plastic. This has conservationists worried.
As Asian elephants are the closest living relatives to the extinct wooly mammoth they are in the spotlight. It is hoped that a viable wooly mammoth fetus can be created. The fetus would be a creation of mammoth and elephant DNA. It would be brought to term in a surrogate elephant mother. They resulting calf would be very close genetically to a mammoth calf.
Addo