Herds like this need space

Large herds of elephant led by a female can criss-cross the veld still, overturn the occasional tree and eat much in good summer veld as green as this.

The size of the reserve has to be large to accommodate such herds. Where there is sufficient food, breeding will increase the numbers, reintroducing the controversial topic of culling and the easy sounding one of selling. (To whom?) If the numbers increase and the land allotment doesn’t increase, famine for the animals and degradation of the vegetation must follow. If the people on the land outside require more space because their own numbers grow, the prospects take a turn for the worse. When mining in the reserve has to be accommodated, it goes even faster.

There is more: Greedy ivory hunters come over the fences at night. Even enter at the front gate, aided and abetted by rangers who do not deserve to have jobs inside. Sell their stash to businessmen outside and abroad who risk less, gain more.