The targeted survey was conducted among 500 contacts, following confirmation of the presence of a wild female elephant remaining in the Knysna forest and fynbos under its management.
The need for evidence-based decision-making required that it conduct two assessments, sociological and ecological, to guide future management of the existence of elephants in the area.
SANParks' scientist Lizette Moolman said they've completed a few studies as part of the legislative requirements in deciding what to do with the single elephant left.
She says the key findings of the ecological study examined the elephant's physiological condition, behaviours in response to human activities and identification of potential human-wildlife conflict.
Moolman says it was also important to understand the reason behind the demise of the elephant population in the area.
She says their assessment further supported the evidence of only one female elephant in the forest area and confirmed the extent of her feeding range.
Different stress hormone levels found in her dung indicated that her hormone system is functioning well and in areas with low human presence, her stress hormone levels were low.
SANPark camera trap footage showed her to be relaxed while in high human-use areas or events but where she was being followed by humans, the stress hormones in her dung were high.
This aligned with her movement and behavioural patterns that showed avoidance of areas with a higher likelihood of human presence and contact.
Both the social and ecological studies support management options that are low-risk, cautious and of minimal-disturbance as well as an acknowledgement that any management option should be informed by experts.
Oupoot
An elusive Knysna elephant, spotted in 2016 and again in 2018 caused great excitement within the local community.
In 2016, SANParks confirmed at the time that 'Oupoot', the famous Knysna elephant had been spotted by rangers.
The evasive elephants in the Knysna forest have for years been a topic of interest.
'Oupoot' became famous when writer Dalleen Matthee published her book "Kringe in 'n Bos" in 1984.
The novel was also part of the Department of Education's prescribed literature for many years and has since been translated into 12 foreign languages.
The female elephant spotted in 2019 was identified in 140 capture events, always by herself, after SANParks activated cameras for 15 months.
She is believed to be about 45 years old and the Park's management wanted to understand who else lives in the forest.
