South Africa was to resume its elephant cull Thursday, ending a 13-year ban on the practice.

Government officials have called the move a last resort, saying it's the only way to deal with a surge in the number of African elephants in the country.

The population has more than doubled since 1995, rising from 8,000 to 18,000. Concerns have arisen that the elephants, which can live up to 60 years and eat hundreds of kilograms of plants each day, pose a threat to some rare species of plants.

People also complained that the massive animals were eating crops and posed a danger to humans.

A government management plan said while hormone-based contraception is still the preferred method of controlling the population, it does cause higher levels of aggression in the pachyderms and won't show results until at least five years.

Conservationists criticized the government's decision, saying allowing the hunt could increase global demand for ivory and threaten dwindling elephant populations elsewhere on the continent.

Last week, a group of scientists meeting in South Africa said elephant management plans warrant special attention, South Africa's Mail and Guardian newspaper reported.

Elephants "are capable of learning," the elephant researchers said, adding that the animals experience fear, pain and a sense of loss.

With files from the Associated Press