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About Knysna Elephant Park |
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 Story
of Knysna Elephant Park
The Knysna Elephant Park was born of the struggle of the
Elephants in the Knysna Forest, who for many years roamed freely in
large numbers in their natural forest habitat. Today, a sad testimony to
our society’s conservational failure, only one has been reported to
survive in the dwindled forest area. Some 30 years ago, the famous
writer Romain Gary was quoted in Time Life magazine to have said: “in a
truly materialistic society, poets, writers, artists and elephants are a
mere nuisance.”
Knysna and surrounds is an area rich in natural beauty and
history, with the world’s southernmost elephants forming an integral
part of this fascinating history. Though small in the face of the
African Elephants' plight across the continent, the sad story of the
Knysna elephants and their demise is perhaps true to Romain Gary’s
prediction.
The fascination with elephants and their untamed environment
began for Ian Withers in his childhood when he spent many holidays
exploring the forests surrounding his grandparent’s home in Brakenhill
outside Knysna. In the evenings, gathered around the kitchen fire, Ian’s
grandfather would tell of his encounters with “Big Feet” - the elephant
- and how his great grandfather had built road passes along the tracks
made by these elephants through the Groot River and Bloukrans gorges and
forests. Elephants and conservation were deeply rooted in Ian’s
foundations and tourism, he saw, provided a window of opportunity to
obtain his wildest dreams, driven by the fact that in 118 years the
elephant population in Knysna had crashed from between 400 and 500 to 1
elephant cow in 1994: to bring elephants back to Knysna.
During October 1994 the first two elephants, Harry and Sally,
having escaped a Kruger culling program, arrived at the Knysna Elephant
Park. Ian and his wife Lisette felt they had the space to create a Park
which could be home to them as well as other elephants who may need a
permanent home. Lisette became a surrogate mother to the two and Harry
and Sally continue to thrive at the Park today.
The hefty family have entertained and educated visitors over
the years, successfully living in a controlled-free-range-environment,
and thriving on all the love and attention they get. Visitors to the
park are privileged to have a close-up and personal encounter with these
gentle giants, and leave having gained a healthy respect for these
wonderful animals, and a better understanding of the African elephant
and his plight across the continent.
Founders and the mission of KEP
Lisette and Ian Withers founded Knynsa Elephant Park
in 1994. Lisette has an uncontrollable instinct to save and assist any
animal in distress; those who know her will attest to the constant
presence of some animal, either in an incubator or at her house, being
rehabilitated. These range from birds to dogs and cats that have been
ill-treated. Ian has a lifelong history and connection with wildlife and
the elephants of the Knysna Forest. This connection extends to his
grandfather who grew up in the area and was fascinated with the wild
elephants. In later years Ian played a role - through WESSA (Wildlife
Association of South Africa) - in the attempt to relocate elephants from
Kruger Park to the Knysna Forests. It seems fitting then that the
foundation of Knysna Elephant Park was built on the struggle of the
elephants in the Knysna Forest.
Mission:
To provide for the welfare of elephants in need through the
application of excellent management and welfare principles, and to
educate the public on sound conservation ethics using this keystone
species as an ambassador of wildlife. By doing this, Knysna Elephant
Park provides jobs to local people as well as a conservation cornerstone
to the region.
Why visit the park?
As with all tourist offerings, there are countless choices; it is always
wise to explore the untold facts behind the pretty pictures.
1) Knysna Elephant Park was the first elephant orphanage of its kind in
South Africa - established in 1994.
2) Knysna Elephant Park has contributed significantly to the responsible
management of elephants in South Africa. The formation of the Elephant
Tourism Association derives directly from the Knysna Elephant Park. The
Elephant Tourism Association wrote the Norms and Standards which now
govern all elephant experiences across the country.
3) Lisette Withers, co-owner of the Knysna Elephant Park along with
husband Ian, is regarded as one of the leaders in the management and
rescue of elephants in South Africa, so much so that she and her team
from the Knysna Elephant Park were invited to stabilise the Tuli
elephants, as well as stabilize and treat the burned Pilansberg
elephants. Lisette is often consulted on how to successfully rear young
orphans.
4) Knysna Elephant Park applies strict responsible tourism and elephant
management guidelines:
• Knysna Elephant Park has defined a ‘free-range, controlled
environment’. This allows the breeding herd (female group) to interact
with tourists on their terms and not on tourists’ terms
• The female group is never split up and is respected as a
tight-knit matriarchal clan
• No rides or organized walks done involve the female
breeding herd
• Males are managed differently and in accordance with the
bachelor herd behavioural patterns in which they operate
5) Knysna Elephant Park has adopted the area’s local underprivileged
school as part of its Corporate Social Investment Programme. Volunteers
from all over the world come to Knysna Elephant Park to participate in
skills transfer programmes that include teaching at the local school.
6) In addition to the main attraction of the elephants, the Park boasts
spectacular views of the Outeniqua mountains and is also home to a patch
of pristine indigenous Knysna forest. The other famous biome you’ll see
at the Park is Cape fynbos.
7) Knysna Elephant Park is conveniently situated close to both
Plettenberg Bay (10km) and Knysna (22km), right in the heart of the
celebrated Garden Route.
8) We are a family destination that welcomes children, not only to the
elephant experiences but to our luxury accommodation too!
When you visit the Knysna Elephant Park, you are not only
experiencing elephants at close range, you are also supporting a number
of elephants at our orphanage near Port Elizabeth. We do not permit
visitors at this Park as it is a true rehabilitation centre. This is our
primary purpose for being - to provide a home to elephants in need. Some
of these elephants live at Knysna Elephant Park, however our world
extends beyond Knysna Elephant Park and what the public experiences. In
2008 we placed six elephants at reserves and in January 2009 we received
two ex-zoo elephants who now enjoy freedom at our other spacious
rehabilitation centre until we find new homes for them at a private game
reserve willing to take them on.
Your experience at our Park helps these elephants live a
better life, and opens your eyes and hearts to their world. We practice
a free-range controlled system of management that allows our matriarchal
herd to range freely and only interact with guests on their terms. Many
people comment on the fact that visiting the Park is like being in Addo,
but without the restriction of sitting in a car. Being so close to the
elephants is invaluable in developing an understanding of elephant
behaviour, and any subsequent trip to greater game parks or reserves can
only be enhanced by this newfound understanding. You will leave Knysna
Elephant Park having been touched by an elephant …
Source: official web of
Knysna
Elephant Park (2010)
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