1.   The South African government was culling elephants from herds because a growing population was taking the land.

2.   To get the cash, South Africa must stop culling elephants in other parks and forswear attempts to repeal the worldwide ban on ivory trade.

3.   Culling surplus elephants has touched off controversy among conservation groups.

4.   They argue elephants can be culled to control the size of herds, with the meat, hide and ivory sold to raise money for local communities and conservation.