   Immunocontraception
uses the female elephant’s own immune response to
block egg fertilization.
- A.M. Costa Rica wire services illustrative photo - |
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 Published Monday, August 17, 2020 Immunocontraception
a vital tool
for the future of elephants, organization says By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services Humane Society International is announcing the treatment of its 34th population of African elephants using the immunocontraception vaccine as a humane population growth control method. According to one of the largest animal protection organizations, this brings the total number of females under treatment in South Africa to 1,035 – which is more than half of all breeding-age female elephants outside of the Kruger National Park, which does not use contraception. As an effective alternative to the traditional method of culling, when family groups are gunned down, immunocontraception uses the female elephant’s own immune response to block egg fertilization, said the organization in its statement. "Female elephants over the age of 10 years are treated remotely from a helicopter with a dart that contains the immunocontraception vaccine and a marking substance that creates a quick reference of which animals have been darted. The dart falls out shortly afterwards," they said. According to Humane Society International, the animals do not need to be immobilized to be treated and vaccinations are completed within minutes. “Shooting these magnificent animals to control their numbers is an antiquated, cruel and unnecessary way to deal with an elephant population that is increasingly squeezed by human encroachment. Immunocontraception is the future of humane elephant conservation,” said Audrey Delsink, wildlife director for HSI/Africa and an elephant biologist. “Elephants are widely acknowledged as highly cognitive, sentient beings with close-knit family bonds that span generations. It has also been well documented that these sensitive animals suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress for decades after undergoing traumatic experiences such as capture from the wild, culling or poaching,” Delsink said. Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States have funded cutting-edge research on the use of this non-steroidal, non-hormonal and humane method of elephant population control since 1996. ------------------------------ Are you for or against the methods used for overpopulation of wild animals? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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