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Ok, maybe someone can tell me...are there any elephants left in the Knysna forrest, or have they been relocated/culled/hunted?

Hi W@H,

Although I have never seen one there I know that there are maybe 2 or 3 around. There is a specialised team consisting of park staff that walks around the forest. They have had some sightings of what was believed 2 or 3 of them. Unless it was a april fool's joke!

I've also been told there are 3 remaining, but that they are now repopulating the area with a few non-Knysna elephants (normal SA ones - slightly larger I believe?).

It will be tragic when these 3 are gone.

Ditto.. I wonder if they ever established why there was a problem with maintaining the populations (after the "great" hunt)?

Try this link: www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za

It seems that the number has grown to 10 ellies in the area

Gosh, I missed this thread completely. No guys, there are no more wild Elephants left in the Knysna forest. The last remaining cow died before 2000. SANP then relocated Kruger Elephants into the forest, but their feet started to rot and they were malnourished because of the unfamiliar vegetation. and all eight of them died.

Harry and Sally are kept in a relatively small plot , just off the N2 Highway between Plett and Knysnaand are quite tame. I have had the privilidge to see them both and even fed them some oranges. One of them recently killed a handler, and I am not sure what their lot was in the end. My dad is in local council for Knysna, I will ask him next time I speak to him. He also watches this forum, so maybe now is a perfect reason for him to join

Thanks Loams,

Sometimes there is a glimmer of hope that you do have some knowledge to share

Thanks for the info ... and it's a shame that there are no more ellies left.

You are "gasuip"! On news in the last 2 years trackers in Knysna spotted elephants on different occasions. Explain please?

The Knysna elephants had shorter tusks, so that they could move around the forest.

I have been following the saga about the Knysna elephants for a number of years now, and it remains one of those mysteries that you can only find in a forest.

First: The Elephants at the Elephant Park are kept in captivity. It is one of the best experiences to go there. It is true that one of the handlers was killed recently, but we all know that working with wild animals is always dangerous.

Second: I do not agree with Loams that there are no more wild elephants in the Knysna forest. I have not seen one, and I do not know anybody that has seen one. I have spoken to some people working for the Forestry Department and someone living in the forest at the Gouna station. He has seen warm elephant dung recently and is convinced that there are still elephants. How many, nobody knows for certain.

The forest area is so big that 3 or 4 or even more elephants can wander out there without ever encountering a human. Anyway, if an elephant is standing 10 mteres from you in the forest and you do not know about its whereabouts, you will not see it. These "Big Feet" are quiet in the forest. (By the way, you should never say the word "elephant" in the forest, or you will be attacked by one. They are referred to as "Big Feet" - Grootvoete here)

There is a lot of reference to the Knysna elephants in literature, but little written specifically about them. It is a story that needs to be told.

The reason for the three ellies from Kruger not adapting in the forest? Probably various reasons, including wet feet, not having a taste for the food available, etc. They were not so elusive as the forest elephants and too "used" to humans that they became a nuisance on the farms in the forest. They were relocated after two or three years and as far as I can remember, now live in Addo.

I think there are elephants in the Knysna forest, because sometimes when you are in the forest, you just get the feeling there is something big out there!

During my childhoodyears, aprox 25 odd years ago, this was allready a mystery with or without proof. People, i suppose that during all the past years somebody should have found some dung for ec.
Or is this another Bigfoot story. Every country has one
Or is there actually real proof to backup these (i hope very much) wittnesses of forestellie.

Don't you guys read my posts. I said earlier that trackers in knysna saw the eles a couple of times. It was on the news and everything.
Geez Louise!!

Then its true

I'd like to be a believer and very much hope that there are still Knysna ellies deep in the forest . However, it is also wise to remember that just because something is "on the news" or in a newspaper does NOT mean that it is true . As the old saying goes, "don't believe everything you read".

Have a look here for some links. Most say that there are 4 left. Not a viable population....