DYING IN SILENCE OP-ED: The 951 dead elephants in the Kruger Park and a question everyone should be asking

In recent years, the Kruger National Park, one of Africa's most iconic wildlife reserves, has become the focus of intense scrutiny regarding the fate of its elephant population. A newly released dataset, obtained through a formal request under South Africa’s Promotion of Access to Information Act, reveals that between January 2020 and December 2025, a total of 951 elephants died within the park. This number includes both natural deaths and those attributed to human activity, but it also raises pressing questions about the role of so-called "management" in elephant mortality. The dataset, compiled as part of the international Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) program under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), provides the first comprehensive record of elephant deaths in Kruger over a six-year period. Of the 951 recorded deaths, 535 were categorized as natural causes such as old age, disease, drought, and natural conflicts. Another 179 deaths were linked to illegal activities, including poaching via snares and gunshot wounds. While these figures align with expectations given the size of the park’s elephant population, they represent only part of the story. A particularly concerning aspect of the dataset is the classification of 207 deaths under the broad category of "Management." This term, used without detailed explanation, leaves many unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding these fatalities. Unlike other categories, which provide clear cause-and-effect relationships, "Management" appears to be a vague designation that lacks transparency. The absence of specifics about what constitutes "management" in this context has sparked concern among conservationists and the public alike. Historically, Kruger National Park played a central role in shaping South Africa’s approach to elephant conservation. During much of the 20th century, the park implemented a culling program aimed at controlling elephant numbers to prevent environmental degradation. Between the 1960s and 1994, thousands of elephants were systematically killed in what became one of the largest lethal wildlife management programs in Africa. However, this practice was eventually abandoned due to ethical objections and evolving ecological perspectives. Since the end of the culling era, Kruger has shifted toward more adaptive management strategies, focusing on non-lethal methods to address issues such as habitat pressure and human-wildlife conflict. Despite this shift, the lack of clarity around the "Management" category suggests that some form of intervention continues to play a role in elephant mortality. Conservation experts emphasize that decisions involving the deliberate removal of protected wildlife must be grounded in robust scientific evidence, legal frameworks, and ethical considerations. The release of this data comes at a time when the future of elephant conservation in South Africa is under review. With increasing pressure from climate change, habitat loss, and human encroachment, the need for transparent and accountable wildlife management practices has never been more critical. The Kruger National Park, home to one of the world’s largest free-ranging elephant populations, serves as a microcosm of broader challenges facing conservation efforts across Africa. As discussions continue about the implications of the new data, stakeholders from various sectors—scientists, policymakers, local communities, and conservation organizations—are calling for further investigation into the "Management" category. They argue that without a clearer understanding of how and why certain elephants are being removed, it will be impossible to assess the true impact of these actions on the overall health of the ecosystem and the welfare of the animal population. What remains uncertain is whether the full picture of these deaths will ever be made available to the public. While parts of the dataset have been disclosed, significant portions remain outstanding, leaving room for speculation and concern. As the debate unfolds, the question of how best to manage one of Africa’s most revered species continues to challenge conservationists and policymakers alike.