I'm glad the population has increased that much in 13 years, but is 20,000 still such a big number? This is such a double edged sword. Man is encroaching so much on wildlife habitats that 20,000 elephants is too many to be properly sustained on the little protected areas they have. Yet, if the population is not controlled, they will suffer other problems not man-related.

And how much of the need for culling is directly related to complaints of elephants ruining crops and property?

Sad, sad.

I actually saw something on this recently. The elephants do damage crops and have run ins with humans, but they do a lot of damage to other animals habitats too. They uproot and kill trees, acting like buldozers across landscapes. This destroys habitats of small animals, and birds.
That said, surely there is another way?

They're destroying the crops and annoying the humans that have taken their natural habitat away from them. Allowing "culling" is just ridiculous. Why are humans such jackasses?

If you ever get an answer to that, please let me know.

I wasn't saying that humans are in the right. But people have to survive too. The people who they hurt are not big towns, but normally small rural villages, were people depend on crops.
But like I was saying, that is not the only damage the elephants do. They destroy the habitat of other animals too. Should those animals be less important? Elephants are hugely destructive animals.
BUT I wasn't condoning the culling. The herds, if that damaging should not have been allowed to get out of control. Contraception, dividing herds.... I'm sure there are other ways to deal with the problem.

There are probably a few good ways to deal with the problem, but when the wildlife runs a muck the first solution is always to kill them.

If they use smart tactics (e.g.- not a hunting season), help feed hungry villagers with the meat, harvest everything even putting the skin and bones to use as tools or something I can see this being a positive thing. But it is very difficult with such a small number to do so and keep the herd healthy.

Can we just sterilize a few and call it a day. I mean, let's face it, the only "animal" on this planet that needs CULLING... is us. I used to be against the idea, but now I completely see the analogy between "HUMANS" and a "VIRUS".