Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 

Namibia’s elephants are listed on Appendix II of CITES with a restriction on live exports to in situ conservation programmes – this means to a place where they do or have recently existed in nature, or to suitable and acceptable destinations. To circumvent this restriction Namibia claimed that it could, instead apply the provisions which would apply to Appendix I listed elephant populations, which allow exports for non-commercial purposes. Zoos are regarded by CITES as non-commercial entities. 

Burkina Faso submitted a document at the 74^th meeting of the Standing Committee which was held in Lyon in France held in March 2022 regarding agenda item 50 which related to Namibia’s interpretation of its exports of live African elephants to non-range States. This document contained a second legal opinion titled CITES Rules on Exports of Live African Elephants from Namibia.  This legal opinion concluded that Namibia’s elephant population is listed in CITES Appendix II, which is subject to a legally binding restriction on live trade, in force since 2003, limiting such trade to in situ conservation programmes only, exports of live wild-caught elephants from Namibia should only be permissible to destinations within the natural range of the species. 

Senegal, Gabon, Burkino Faso, Kenya, Guinea, Congo, Israel, the United Kingdom, and representatives of Oceania were amongst some of the Parties to CITES who questioned and challenged Namibia’s interpretation of the rules.  

Incredulously, Namibian authorities denied having any role in the sale and export of 22 wild elephants to the UAE. The International Fund for Animal Welfare organisation responded by saying that the elephants could not be exported from Namibia without a government-issued permit under the rules of CITES.  The UAE is not a natural range for elephants and these kinds of exports offer no conservation benefits for elephants in Africa.  

On the 10^th November 2022, four days before the commencement of the Nineteenth CITES Conference to Parties was to be held in Panama City, in Panama,  the Pro Elephant Network delivered a widely endorsed statement  in favour of revised CITES Cop19 resolutions to prevent the export of wild elephants into captivity.

At the CITES CoP19, a formal proposal by a group of eight African nations to introduce an outright ban on the export of live wild-caught African elephants to zoos and other captive facilities was not adopted.  However, CoP19 did agree to a moratorium on further live exports while a long-term legal framework is negotiated. 

Where Are the Namibian Elephants?

Sharjah Safari Park 

Seven months after arriving in the UAE, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi toured Sharjah Safari Park where he was photographed and filmed watching the Namibian elephant exhibition. 

The elephants were, once again, officially photographed and videoed on 26^th January 2023 when the Crown Prince and the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi paid a visit to Sharjah Safari where an African elephant calf named Samra was viewed. 

Elephants are pregnant for twenty-two months which indicates that a pregnant elephant was transported from Namibia to the UAE.

The Elephant Exhibition at Al Ain Zoo, Abu Dhabi

In an article published on  22^nd July 2019, Abu Dhabi-based Musandana was commissioned to build the Elephant Safari at Al Ain Zoo.  “The Elephant Safari will provide natural habitat for 15 African elephants, the elephant exhibit will be landscaped with natural local plants as well as trees and shrubs coving an area of 6200 square metres” said Mark Craig, who has served as Director of the Al Ain Zoo from 2006 until 2009 and the Director of Life Sciences and acting Chief Operation Officer since 2012.   

Mark Craig was quoted in October 2019, in a published study titled Spreading Zoo Animal Diseases: Has Al Ain Developed an Effective Program to Deal with the Threat?  He said that one of the many problems facing Al Ain Zoo was keeping the animals healthy and containing any disease that occurred. 

According to the study:

• Al Ain staff and handlers are well versed in the correct procedures for evaluating and maintaining health, preventing disease outbreaks, and providing treatment of animals when necessary.
• Al Ain staff provide necessary daily visual inspection of each animal. 
• Al Ain veterinarians are highly skilled in treating a diverse range of diseases from simple to complex in a bewildering variety of animals. 
• Al Ain veterinarians have a critical function in preventing disease by providing proper food, exercise and appropriate environmental spaces together with proper vaccinations, routine health exams and dental check-ups.

In September 2020, Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director General of the Zoo and Aquarium Public Institution in Al Ain, stated that the Elephant Safari Project was 89 percent completed.  The Elephant Safari advertises a range of associated experiences such as feeding the elephants in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere.  

In a statement released on 6^th March 2022, Romeo Muyunda spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism,  the Namibian, “the elephants arrived in the UAE early on Saturday morning and are reported to be doing well except for one cow which is seemingly weak’.

Two days before the elephants arrived in the UAE the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums  posted a statement in which they said they had examined information received from Al Ain Zoo with regard to the purchase and import of wild  elephants from Namibia.  Based upon the information provided WAZA was unable to determine that the requirements of WAZA’s Code of Ethics have been met. 

Six months after the Namibian elephants arrived in the UAE the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria announced the terminationof the membership of Al Ain Zoo.

“The decision comes after careful examination of evidence related to the import of wild caught African elephants from Namibia, which the Council agreed constituted multiple breached of EAZA Codes and Standards.

The behaviour of Al Ain Zoo in acting against EAZA policies and publicly shared statements has shown a lack of respect for the needs of the EEPs and EAZA Community.  It has negatively impacted the reputation of EAZA.”

Eleven months after the elephants arrived at Al Ain Zoo from Namibia, they have not been publicly exhibited at Al Ain Zoo, according to an article published on 27^th February 2023. The absence of the elephants has led to intense speculation about their health and well-being. 

CITES should be encouraged to confirm the exact number of elephants that arrived in the UAE from Namibia, and their exact present whereabouts in the UAE, as well as the number of elephants that have been born in the UAE. 

Image Credits http://wam.ae/en/details/1395303122731

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