Abstract
Pimm and van Aarde question the feasibility of controlling elephant numbers by immunocontraception, arguing that the sterilization or removal of 250 subadult cows each year is the answer to population growth. However, there are no known safe methods of sterilizing free-roaming African elephants. Moving 250 subadult females to another park is impractical as there are very few areas able to receive elephants from Kruger National Park without becoming confronted with an elephant overpopulation problem of their own.
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References
van Aarde, R. J., Whyte, I. & Pimm, S. Anim. Conserv. 2, 287–294 (1999).
Whyte, I., van Aarde, R. J. & Pimm, S. Anim. Conserv. 1, 77–83 (1998).
Kirkpatrick, J. F., Turner, J. W., Liu, I. K. M., Fayrer-Hosken, R. A. & Rutberg, A. T. Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 9, 105–110 (1997).
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brief communications is intended to provide a forum for both brief, topical reports of general scientific interest and technical discussion of recently published material of particular interest to non-specialist readers. Priority will be given to contributions that have fewer than 500 words, 10 references and only one figure. Detailed guidelines are available on Nature's website (http://www.nature.com) or on request from nature@nature.com
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Fayrer-Hosken, R., Grobler, D., van Altena, J. et al. African elephants and contraception. Nature 411, 766 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35081156
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35081156
