There is a really good article in the December 2012 issue of Geographical, the magazine of the Royal Geographic Society, about elephant bushmeat trade in Central Africa, particularly the Congo river basin. Here is the bottom line:

"The trade in elephant bushmeat poses a distinct threat to the future of elephants, possibly even greater than ivory in the long term. If elephants are only killed for thier ivory, at least the species will survive after the tuskers are gone; if meat is the target, no elephant is safe."

The author was refering to illegal trade in ivory, not legal hunting. A very interesting and balanced article written by a UC Berkeley Ph.D in anthropology. If you can find it, I would highly recommend it.

Although Botswana has banned hunting from 2013, they do have a massive over-population of elephants even before the ban on hunting. This will in future, after the hunting ban, certainly destroy their bushveld and eco-systems to a massive extent.

Solution: Deport excess elephants to the Congo - feed the hungry masses - and lift the ban on hunting in Botswana, which action will normalise and keep everything in balance again in Botswana.
Elephant numbers as well in both counties.

Gecko, bless you for suggesting a rational solution. Unfortunately, we're not likely to see it adopted.
I'll admit I did not want seconds on the smoked elephant I was served in Namibia ...

I have eaten elephant meet from several of the elephants I have killed.

I found it pretty good.

Even when just thrown on top of some coals, native style it was good.

I did put mine on a stick so I would not burn my fingers.

I have also eaten elephant in stews, steaks, kabobs and biltong. In most cases, it is very tough and a little goes a long way because you have to chew it so long. It does make a very tasty gravy though. The most tender parts are the cheek steaks. You get a t-bone sized steak from each cheek of the elephant and it is similar to a tough beef T-bone.

465H&H

I know in the bush it is not possible, but do you think the meat would be better if you could age it like we do with venison and beef?

I normally like most types of game venison. However I found Elephant meat strong for my liking. The trackers and camp staff loved it however.

On the day I killed my tuskless, they served elephant finger steaks for appetizers that evening. They had stripped it out and pounded the meat, dredged in flour then battered, and fried. I thought it was very tasty and surprisingly tender that way.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201212110222.html


Kenya: Poachers Now Harvest Elephant Genitals in Bizarre Twist to Paoching in Northern Kenya.

By Raabia Hawa, 10 December 2012


Poachers in Northern Kenya are finding more to harvest from elephants other than just their tusks. They are now hacking off the foreheads of the poached beasts and at their genitals

There were two cases of elephant poaching reporte last week. The first incident occurred at Louwa Lo Nkishu on December 4 while the second happened three days later in Milango, both in Samburu area. The tusks and genitals from the first incident were recovered.

Over the weekend, another elephant was reported poached in the same area at Mlango near the Kipsing Gap, the spot where Isiolo Resort City is planned to be established.

In a recent testimony to the United States International Conservation Caucus Hearing (ICCH) in Washington, Ian James Saunders of the Tsavo Trust linked ivory poaching to terrorism.

Isiolo is now one of Kenya's poaching hotspots with insecurity in the region on an all time high. The elephants have been targeted along their migratory route through Samburu, Mount Kenya and the Aberdares.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46...ol-now-poached-meat/


'Elephant sashimi': Thai national symbol now poached for meat

'The situation has come to a crisis point. The longer we allow these cruel acts to happen, the sooner they will become extinct,' wildlife official says

1/27/2012 6:30:42 AM ET



BANGKOK — A new taste for eating elephant meat — everything from trunks to sex organs — has emerged in Thailand and could pose a new threat to the survival of the species.

Wildlife officials told The Associated Press that they were alerted to the practice after finding two elephants slaughtered last month in a national park in western Thailand.

"The poachers took away the elephants' sex organs and trunks ... for human consumption," Damrong Phidet, director-general of Thailand's wildlife agency, said in a telephone interview. Some meat was to be consumed without cooking, like "elephant sashimi," he said.

Poachers typically just remove tusks, which are most commonly found on Asian male elephants and fetch thousands of dollars on the black market. A market for elephant meat, however, could lead to killing of the wider elephant population, Damrong said.

"If you keep hunting elephants for this, then they'll become extinct," he said.


Consuming elephant meat is not common in Thailand, but some Asian cultures believe consuming animals' reproductive organs can boost sexual prowess.



.
Damrong said the elephant meat was ordered by restaurants in Phuket, a popular travel destination in the country's south. It wasn't clear if the diners were foreigners.

The accusation drew a quick rebuttal from Phuket Governor Tri Akradecha, who told Thai media that he had never heard of such restaurants but ordered officials to look into the matter.

Poachers seek 'big money'
Poaching elephants is banned, and trafficking or possessing poached animal parts also is illegal. Elephant tusks are sought in the illegal ivory trade, and baby wild elephants are sometimes poached to be trained for talent shows.

"The situation has come to a crisis point. The longer we allow these cruel acts to happen, the sooner they will become extinct," Damrong said.


The quest for ivory remains the top reason poachers kill elephants in Thailand, other environmentalists say.

Soraida Salwala, the founder of Friends of the Asian Elephant foundation, said a full grown pair of tusks could be sold from 1 million to 2 million baht ($31,600 to $63,300), while the estimated value of an elephant's penis is more than 30,000 baht ($950).

"There's only a handful of people who like to eat elephant meat, but once there's demand, poachers will find it hard to resist the big money," she cautioned.

Thailand has fewer than 3,000 wild elephants and about 4,000 domesticated elephants, according to the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

The pachyderms were a mainstay of the logging industry in the northern and western parts of the country until logging contracts were revoked in the late 1980s.

Domesticated animals today are used mainly for heavy lifting and entertainment.

Had a little cheek meat over the campfire after taking my first elephant. Pretty "chewy", give me a good burrito anyday !

Back in 1998 I found my first elephant bull to be quite chewy and spongy; didn't enjoy it. However, this past August PH Alan Shearing made some Ele kabobs grilled over a fire that were very nice. I believe he used meat from the armpits of my ration Ele.

I love elephants but I couldn't eat a whole one!

+10 on chewy! I think given a proper kitchen with refrigeration and a meat tenderizer I could beat it into a chewable meal. Taste was fine.

Mark

We had elephant hor's douvres on my last safari. Tasty and not tough. I have no idea how they prepared the meat.

quote:

Poachers in Northern Kenya are finding more to harvest from elephants other than just their tusks. They are now hacking off the foreheads of the poached beasts and at their genitals

I can get the concept of elephant fries but what on earth does one do with their foreheads?
k

with the one i shot 2 months ago, the cook made a beef type stew from the cheek muscle( gravy, potatoes, carrots, onions, etc.). the meat was cut into small cubes and cooked for quite a while. it was both tender and delicious...

I thought it tasted good, but it was like chewing on a steel belted radial tire.

Dave

We ate the heart of an elephant I shot and it was sweet tasting. The trunk was not edible.

The most tender parts are the testicles, which are large and undescended. One has to do a little internal searching for them but they are quite good.

quote:

The trunk was not edible.

The"connoisseurs" of the elephant cuisine consider the trunk to be a delicacy and it is the part of choice presented to village chiefs and dignitaries.
I am told its preparation is very meticulous, the cooking process tedious, with many hours of simmering and TLC involved.
The end result apparently "Wows" the guests at the dinner table.

Elephant Boerewors and kebabs are quite nice.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Elephant Boerewors and kebabs are quite nice.

Ozzie:

I believe someone got taken to court because he produced and marketed "Boerwors" using different ingredients other than those patented to the name.

Fujo,
I could well imagine this could happen but in this case I knew the Hunter and Butcher and they both took part in eating them.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Fujo,
I could well imagine this could happen but in this case I knew the Hunter and Butcher and they both took part in eating them.

On a private basis I reckon one could make them out of crocodile meat as well - Wasn't having a dig or anything but sheer coincidence that several days ago a Kaburu friend of mine mentioned the incident - Those guys take their "Boerwors" seriously.

There are also the storeys of people selling Elephant and Hippo Nyama as Buffalo meat, and to unsuspecting Muslims.

we gave the trunk of the 1 i shot to the local chief( actually to his wife, who would be the one cooking it) and she seemed pleased.