2008 may as well be the year labeled as ,"Bringing Endangered Species Back." First the ban has been lifted on killing gray wolves in Yosemite, and now South Africa announced it will start killing elephants to reduce 'their burgeoning numbers', ending a 13-year ban and possibly setting a precedent for other African nations.

Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said the government was left with no choice but to reintroduce killing elephants "as a last option and under very strict conditions" to reduce environmental degradation and rising conflicts with humans.

South Africa is home to about 18,000 elephants by the government's count. However, Michele Pickover, a spokeswoman for Animal Rights Africa, which is threatening to promote tourist boycotts, said killing elephants was "undeniably cruel and morally reprehensible."

She said South Africa does not have too many elephants and that the decision by the government posed a threat to the elephant population in southern Africa.

If the African government is SO concerned with with the environmental impact of elephants that have roamed the vast African savannahs for eons, then why don't they take issue with the impact that humans are having.

Across Africa,  many communities are not properly educated about the disadvantages of having plenty children whom they cannot adequately care for in terms of education, good food and clothing and medical care. This is common among people in the villages who do not believe in birth control.

For a country that struggles to educate it's population in matters of self-sustainability and in birth control, do they have right to murder animals that have the LEAST impact?

The NRA must be frothing at the mouth to schedule organized Big Game Hunts.

For now, I urge those interested in going in a 'fun' safari, to reconsider until Africa wakes up and sees the real issues at hand.