Dr Marion Garai, the “mother” of Elephant Management and Owners’ Association (EMOA) has stepped down after 12 years as chairperson.
She was instrumental in establishing EMOA as a respected organisation with 65 private and state members representing over 75% of the registered elephant managers and owners in SA. MOA played a big role in the early days of translocation when there were no guidelines on important issues such as site selection, site preparation, practical translocation issues, and resultant elephant behaviour and elephant management on smaller reserves.
Focusing its efforts on these gaps and drawing on the collective scientific expertise of both members and other dedicated conservationists, EMOA collected and disseminated information, providing assistance and advising on proposed translocations, as well as giving new owners and managers the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences through newsletters, workshops and discussion groups. W ith the demand for elephants on the wane, EMOA is now concentrating on more general management issues, such as population control, bridging gaps between the academic world and management, and promoting the idea of a national strategy plan for elephant management. – Roelof Bezuidenhout Visit www.emoa.org.za for more information.
