Category: NAMIBIAN ELEPHANTS

On the 16th of December 2022 the Members of the Pro Elephant Network sent urgent communications to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the CITES Authority in Namibia, to the CITES Secretary General, the CITES Legal Officer, Chair of the Standing Committee, the IUCN Elephant Specialist Group, the Co Chairs of the African Elephant Coalition and Parties to CITES who submitted the Revision of Resolution Conf.10.10 (Rev. CoP18) on the Trade in Live African Elephants.

Read the full communication signed by PREN Members:

Excerpt from the communication:

“You will recall from previous correspondence dating back to  December 2020, that the Members of the Pro Elephant Network (PREN) share a specific interest in the protection of the African Elephant. The expertise of PREN Members encompasses both free-living and held-captive Elephants; the network consists of scientists, academics, wildlife conservationists, representatives from wildlife protection and welfare organisations, environmental lawyers and economists as well as representatives from social justice organisations and indigenous community leaders.   

We note that at the recent CITES meeting in Panama in November 2022, Parties unanimously agreed that while the process for a dialogue meeting is underway to discuss the long-term rules around exports of live wild-caught African 

Elephants, any such exports will be limited to in situ conservation programmes or secure areas in the wild, within the species’ natural and historical range in Africa, except in exceptional circumstances where, in consultation with the Animals committee, through its Chair with the support of the Secretariat, and in consultation with the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group, it is considered that a transfer to ex situ locations will provide demonstrable in situ conservation benefits for African Elephants, or in the case of temporary transfers in emergency situations.  

Members of PREN previously attempted to engage with representatives from the Namibian government regarding the capture and sale of twenty-two free-living, desert-adapted Elephants which were subsequently exported from Namibia to captivity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this year. 

PREN members specifically requested information on the Non-Detriment Findings for the aforementioned transfer, as well as any scientific data supporting the capture and subsequent sale, which has, to our knowledge, never been made public. 

As we are sure you will be aware, two legal opinions^[1] have been published regarding the controversial capture and export of free-living Elephants from Namibia, which questioned the legality of exports of live Elephants taken from the wild to captive facilities overseas. We note that the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria publicly distanced themselves from the captive facilities in UAE that received the exported Elephants. 

Furthermore, the capture, sale and trade of the twenty-two Namibian Elephants to the UAE was raised as an issue of concern at the 74^th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Lyon in France (8^th-12^th March 2022), and again at the 19^th Conference of the Parties held in Panama City in Panama (14^th-25^th November 2022).

CITES CoP19 agreed to a moratorium, limiting any export of live wild-caught African Elephant to in situ conservation programmes or secure areas in the wild, within the species’ natural and historical range in Africa, except in exceptional circumstances on further live exports while harmonized legal framework is negotiated.

Members of PREN have been reliably informed that six wild-caught Elephants are still being held captive on Mr Gerrie Odendaal’s property, from which the twenty-two Elephants were exported to the UAE in March 2022. 

In the interests of transparency amidst global public concerns, members of PREN hereby formally and publicly request the following information from the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as a matter of urgency:

1. Confirmation of the holding facility;  
2. Sex and age of the Elephants;
3. Details of the capture, its location and copy of justifications for it; 
4. Copies of all permits; 
5. Details of sale transaction between the government and private parties; 
6. Report from the welfare authority on the animals’ status and well-being;
7. Copy of Non-Detriment Finding in case of planned future export of the Elephants; and
8. Information on the intentions for these Elephants going forward. 

We hereby request that: 

(a) The Namibian government immediately puts in place measures to prevent the export of the six Elephants to captive facilities, in recognition of the Decision taken by the Parties at the CITES CoP19; 

(b) The Namibian government prioritises their return to their free-living life and herds. “

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Image Credit: G.H. Odendaal
https://conservationnamibia.com/blog/namibia-elephant-auction.php;

©Pro Elephant Network 2022. All Rights Reserved

On Friday 18th February 2022, Members of the Pro Elephant Network sent an urgent communication to the following recipients:

The Acting Director of Biodiversity Department of CITES United Arab Emirates, the Minister of Climate Change and the Environment United Arab Emirates, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Namibia, the Namibian CITES Authority, the Secretary General of CITES, the Legal Officer of the CITES Secretariat, the Chief of the Scientific Unit CITES, the Chair of the CITES Standing Committee, Chair of the CITES Animals Committee, EAZA Director for Conservation and Population Management, EAZA Deputy Executive Director, EAZA African elephant Coordinator, EAZA Elephant TAG Chair, EAZA Assistant Coordinator, the IUCN Elephant Specialist Group, Co-Chair of the African Elephant Coalition and the Kenya Wildlife Service

PLEASE FIND A COPY OF THE FULL LETTER:

EXCERPTS FROM AFOREMENTIONED LETTER:

URGENT UPDATE ON THE TRADE IN WILD CAUGHT ELEPHANTS FROM NAMIBIA TO THE UAE

In October 2021, 22 wild elephants were captured and transported to a holding facility in Gobabis, the regional capital of the Omaheke Region of eastern Namibia. The holding facility is located on the premises of a trophy hunting safari business called GoHunt Namibia Safaris, the business is owned by Mr Gerrie Odendaal.

The wild elephants are being held captive in preparation for export to zoos in the United Arab Emirates, possibly to the Al Ain Zoo, member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the Sharjah Desert Park. According to reports this deal was organised by a South African wildlife trader/broker and a large amount of money has already changed hands in this clearly commercial transaction. Additional information, received by some of the PREN Members, claims that several charter companies have allegedly refused to ship the elephants to their destination.

A legal opinion was obtained by the EMS Foundation, a member of the Pro Elephant Network, in 2021. The legal opinion stated that it would not be lawful for the Namibian CITES Management Authority to issue an export permit under either Appendix I or Appendix II of CITES, nor for a country outside of the range states for Loxodonta Africana to issue an import permit, particularly because Appendix II does not apply to the export and the available evidence indicates that exporting the Namibian wild-caught elephants elephants to an ex-situ programme cannot meet the requirements of Article III for trade in Appendix I species, particularly the non-detriment criterion.

The removal of wild African elephants for captive use is not supported by the African elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSN AfESG). In an official statement they clarified, “Believing there to be no direct benefit for in-situ conservation of African elephants, the African elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission does not endorse the removal of African elephants from the wild for any captive use.”

In addition, the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism confirmed in public statement issued on the 15th of February 2022, that the elephants were captured in the Kunene region of Namibia. For the record, we are relying upon our sources who have always indicated that the captured elephants are from threatened desert adapted populations.

In a letter, dated 31st of January 2022, to PREN from the EAZA Executive Office, the EAZA Ex-situ Programme for African elephant (EEP), they stated that the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) for African elephants has no intention, nor need, to import African elephants from the wild. They also stated that EAZA “is not principally against legal and sustainable importation of animals from the wild to accredited zoos in exceptional circumstances, and when in support of population management and species conservation needs. The EAZA Elephant Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and the two EEPs have taken the position that such circumstances do not apply at present and thus do not support the importation of elephants from the wild into the EAZA population. EAZA Members are bound to abide by this position of the EEP and TAG.”

Since December 2020 the Members of PREN have attempted to engage with the Namibian authorities regarding the capture and sale of wild elephants in Namibia. More specifically PREN members requested information on the Non-Detriment Finding and data on the population and conditions of the capture. Unfortunately, all communications from PREN, including those sent in August, September and October 2021 were ignored and no action was taken to stop the capture of wild elephants in Namibia.

Access to information and the right to know is the fundamental cornerstone of democracy, transparency and accountability. This is squarely a matter of public interest.

On the 12th February 2022, Namibian investigative journalist John Grobler, was apparently arrested for allegedly flying a drone over the aforementioned far, his request for access having been denied. Grobler was apparently charged with trespassing on private property under Ordinance 3 of 1962. The 1962 ordinance clearly refers to a person physically trespassing and could not possibly refer to the use of modern drone. The Pro Elephant Network joins protests from many national and international institutions which firmly condemned the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) for this action and AMPOL for the charges with with no evidence and the confiscation of the journalist’s material.

Via Electronic Delivery:

Eng. Muna Omran Al Shamsi – Acting Director Biodiversity Department CITES United Arab Emirates

Her Excellency Mariam Bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri – Minister of Climate Change and Environment United Arab Emirates

Ms Ivonne Higuero – CITES Secretary General

Ms Sofie H. Flensborg – Legal Affairs and Compliance CITES Secretariat

Mr Thomas De Meulenaer – CITES Secretariat Chief Science Unit

Ms Carolina Caceres – Chair of CITES Standing Committee

Mr Mathias Lortscher – Chair of CITES Animals Committee

Namibia CITES Authority

Mr Mpho Tjiane – Department of Environmental Affairs CITES South Africa

Honourable Minister Barbara Creecy – Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment

Co-Chairs of the African elephant Coalition

27 October 2021

Honourable Representatives and Chairs,

URGENT OPEN LETTER

THE EXPORT OF WILD CAUGHT DESERT ELEPHANTS FROM NAMIBIA TO THE UAE

The Pro Elephant Network (PREN) is an international community of diverse individuals and organizations, comprising specific expertise, from both western and eastern academies, on wild and captive elephants, including the fields of science, health, conservation, elephant welfare, economics, community leadership, social justice and the law.

Please find attached our correspondence to the Namibian CITES Authorities and to the CITES Secretariat and relevant CITES Committees in August and September 2021. Our correspondence clearly articulated Namibia’s obligations under CITES and carefully pointed out the roles and responsibilities of CITES Secretariat, CITES Committees and the Member States which are signatories of the Convention.

https://www.proelephantnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/PREN-LETTER-TO-CITES-RE-NAMIBIA-EXPORT_210921.pdf

Members of PREN have subsequently received reliable information that indicates that the selection and capture of wild elephant family groups in Namibia has already taken place and that the permits have in all likelihood been issued. The information further suggests that the elephants are in quarantine in preparation for export.

There is a distinct possibility that these elephants have been selected from a small and fragile population in the North- West of Namibia.

Furthermore, the information we have to hand is that a South African wildlife trader/broker is involved in this process and that the elephants are destined for two captive locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE does not have an in situ population of elephants. The UAE has already imported wild elephants from Namibia who are kept in captivity in Safari Parks and private zoos1.

^[1] New elephants at Emirates Park Zoo | Time Out Abu Dhabi

THE PRO ELEPHANT NETWORK OPEN LETTER TO THE SECRETARIAT OF CITES

Ms Ivonne Higuero – CITES Secretary General

Addressed to: Ms Sofie H. Flensborg – Legal Affaris and Compliance – CITES Secretariat

Mr Thomas De Meulenaer – Chief Science Unit – CITES Secretariat

Ms Carolina Caceres – Chair of CITES Standing Committee

Mr Mathias Lortscher – Chair of CITES Animals Committee

CC: Co-Chairs of the African elephant Coalition

DATED: 21st September 2021

Honorable Chairs and Representatives,

On the 11^th of August 2021, Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism released a statement – Ministerial update on the Elephant Auction – which declared that 57 wild elephants would be captured and 42 of these exported.

On World Elephant Day – 12^th August 2021 – the Pro Elephant Network (PREN) wrote to the Namibian CITES authorities, asking:

1. Are the forty-two elephants to be captured and sold internationally for in situ conservation purposes only? 
2. What are the final destinations of the forty-two elephants selected for exportation? 
3. Will any of the fifty-seven elephants be going into captivity?

To date, no acknowledgement of, or response to this letter has been received from the Namibian government. Throughout the almost ten months since its original announcement in December 2020 of the intention to auction elephants for capture and possible export, the Government of Namibia has consistently failed to provide transparent information to national and international stakeholders about the exact source and population status of the elephants to be targeted as well as their destination. 

On September 8^th 2021, the CITES Secretariat issued a contentious statement on its website entitled − Statement on Trade in live African elephants under articles III and IV – which  was sharing Namibia’s wrong interpretation that the trade in wild elephants from Namibia to ex situ destinations (i.e. outside of their natural range) was possible under Appendix I rules.  

The Secretariat updated its statement on the 17^th of September, however once again failed to address the legal arguments speaking against such exports. It also failed to acknowledge the fact, that the CITES Animals Committee had in June expressed concerns on live elephant exports and that Namibia’s controversial interpretation will be further discussed at the Standing Committee. 

12th August 2021

NAMIBIAN MINISTRY UPDATE ON THE ELEPHANT AUCTION

On World Elephant Day 2021 Members of the Pro Elephant Network have sent a letter to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism with regard to the communication circulated and dated 11th August 2021.

PREN members asked if the Ministry could confirm the following:

1. If the forty-two elephants that are to be captured and sold internationally are for in situ conservation purposes only?
2. What the final destinations of the forty-two elephants selected for exportation are?
3. If any of the fifty-seven elephants will be going in to captivity?

Image Credit: The Independent

© Copyright Pro Elephant Network 2021. All rights reserved.

AN OPEN LETTER PREPARED BY THE BORN FREE FOUNDATION ADDRESSED TO:

His Excellency Hagers Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia
Private Bag 13339, Windhoek, Namibia

Honourable Minister Pohamba Penomwenyo Shifeta, Ministry of Environment and Tourism Private Bag 13306, Windhoek Namibia

Her Excellency Linda Scott, High Commissioner High Commission for the Republic of Namibia 6 Chandos Street, London W1G 9LU

The CITES Secretariat

December 2020
Your Excellencies, Honourable Minister,

We, the undersigned are writing respectfully to express our grave concerns relating to proposals to offer live elephants for commercial sale from regions of Namibia, where they are reported to be overpopulated, affected by drought, and/or in conflict with local people.

According to a tender notice posted by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in The Namibian in December 2020, as many as 170 live elephants, including adult males and family groups, are being offered for sale from the Omatjete area, Kamanjab commercial farming area, Grootfontein-Kavango Cattle Ranch area and Grootfontein-Tsumkwe area.

The proposed sales will not achieve the stated objectives of controlling populations or reducing human-elephant conflict. Moreover, the capture and relocation of elephants could have extremely deleterious impacts on the health and welfare of the individuals concerned, the stability of their wider societies, and the health of the ecosystems of which they are an integral part.