Distribution and density of oxpeckers on giraffes in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

African elephants Loxodonta africana (Blumenbach) may profoundly affect vegetation and associated animal bio-diversity in savannas (Conybeare 2004, Skarpe et al. 2004). Understanding the patterns of habitat use by elephants is crucial to predict their impacts on ecosystems (Ben-Shahar 1993, Nelleman et al. 2002), particularly now that many populations are recovering from past culling events or poaching outbreaks (Blanc et al. 2007). Surface water is one of the major constraints on elephant distribution (Chamaillé-Jammes et al. 2007, Stokke & du Toit 2002), and accordingly, elephant impacts are higher in the vicinity of water (Ben-Shahar 1993, de Beer et al. 2006). However, waterhole selection by elephant remains poorly understood. Weir (1972) showed in Hwange National Park (hereafter Hwange NP), Zimbabwe, that elephant numbers at waterholes over 24 h increased with the sodium concentration of water on nutrient-poor Kalahari sands. His work has become widely cited in elephant studies as it remains the only one, to the best of our knowledge, to have studied elephant use of waterholes in relation to the mineral concentration of water. Weir's work, however, took place when elephant densities in Hwange NP were low, likely below 0.5 elephants km−2 as estimated by aerial censuses (Williamson 1975). Since then, the elephant population has increased dramatically, particularly since the halt to culling operations in 1986 (Chamaillé-Jammes 2006, Cumming 1981). The present elephant density is much higher, estimated to be over 2 elephants km−2 (Chamaillé-Jammes et al. 2007, in press), and is one of the highest in the world (Blanc et al. 2007). Increased density may modify ecological constraints and affect the hierarchy of habitat selection processes (Morris 2003), and the extent to which water-nutrient selection still constrains elephant distribution at high population density – when their impact on savanna vegetation is the highest – remains unknown.

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Nature-based tourism operators’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series ◽

10.2478/bog-2018-0034 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 42 (42) ◽

pp. 115-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

William Mushawemhuka ◽

Jayne M. Rogerson ◽

Jarkko Saarinen

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Southern Africa ◽

National Park ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Adaptation To Climate Change ◽

Economic Role ◽

Change Perceptions ◽

Hwange National Park ◽

Adaptation Practices

Abstract Climate and weather are important resources for tourism. In particular, nature-based tourism activities and operations are largely dependent on and affected by environmental conditions and changes. Due to the significant socio-economic role of the nature-based tourism and the tourism industry, in general, in the region of southern Africa it is important to understand the dynamics between the industry and climate change. A key aspect of this understanding are perceptions and adaptation preparedness of tourism operators towards the estimated impact of climate change. There is a dearth of empirical studies on climate change perceptions and adaptation in nature-based tourism operations across southern Africa and specifically from Zimbabwe. This research gap is addressed in this article which provides an exploratory analysis of the nature of climate change adaptation practices occurring in southern Africa using evidence from Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

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Hippo cannibalism

Biodiversity Observations ◽

10.15641/bo.v10i0.828 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Author(s):

Julio J. De Castro ◽

Mabel De Castro ◽

Julio J. De Castro ◽

Patricia Ruiz Teixidor

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Hwange National Park

Hippo cannibalism was observed at Mandavu reservoir in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

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Vegetation structure and ungulate abundance over a period of increasing elephant abundance in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467406003609 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 87-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Marion Valeix ◽

Hervé Fritz ◽

Ségolène Dubois ◽

Kwanele Kanengoni ◽

Samuel Alleaume ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Structure ◽

National Park ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Landscape Scale ◽

Aerial Photographs ◽

Population Densities ◽

Elephant Population ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Herbivore Species ◽

Hwange National Park

This study investigates whether increases in elephant populations may influence the structure of African savannas, and consequently may affect other herbivores through changes in habitats. Two contrasting periods in terms of elephant population densities were compared in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe: the early 1980s and the late 1990s. Elephant population density and other ungulate population densities were estimated for a c. 400-km2 area from road counts. Vegetation structure at the landscape scale was assessed using aerial photographs for the same area. All browsers and grazers declined between the early 1980s and the late 1990s, whereas elephants experienced a 16-fold increase. At the landscape scale, vegetation structure changed little with no evidence of an opening of the habitats. These results do not support any kind of medium-term facilitation between elephants and other herbivores. They rather suggest a negative effect of elephants on other herbivore species when elephants are present at high densities. This study rules out a scenario where the decrease of the different herbivore populations was caused by large changes in vegetation structure due to elephant activity.

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Host preference of oxpeckers in the Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

African Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2028.1987.tb01115.x ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 241-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

K. HUSTLER

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Host Preference ◽

Hwange National Park

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Impact of African elephants on Baikiaea plurijuga woodland around natural and artificial watering points in northern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

International Journal of Environmental Sciences ◽

10.6088/ijes.00202030022 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mukwashi

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

African Elephants ◽

Hwange National Park ◽

Artificial Watering

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Futuristic climate change scenario predicts a shrinking habitat for the African elephant (Loxodonta africana): evidence from Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

European Journal of Wildlife Research ◽

10.1007/s10344-019-1327-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kudzai Shaun Mpakairi ◽

Henry Ndaimani ◽

Paradzayi Tagwireyi ◽

Mark Zvidzai ◽

Tinaapi Hilary Madiri

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

National Park ◽

Climate Change Scenario ◽

Loxodonta Africana ◽

African Elephant ◽

Change Scenario ◽

Hwange National Park

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Driving factors of temporary and permanent shallow lakes in and around Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Water SA ◽

10.4314/wsa.v44i2.12 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 44 (2 April) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stembile Msiteli-Shumba ◽

Shakki Kativu ◽

Beaven Utete ◽

Edwin Makuwe ◽

Florence D Hulot

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Water Level ◽

Aquatic Ecosystems ◽

National Park ◽

Water Hardness ◽

Dry Season ◽

Driving Factors ◽

Water Level Fluctuations ◽

Arid Environments ◽

Hwange National Park

Small aquatic ecosystems in semi-arid environments are characterised by strong seasonal water level fluctuations. In addition, land use as well as artificial pumping of groundwater to maintain water resources throughout the dry season may affect the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we investigated pans situated in and around Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, where certain waterholes are artificially maintained during the dry season for conservation purposes. We monitored 30 temporary and permanent waterholes for 7 months across the wet and dry seasons in 2013, and analysed them for standard parameters to investigate seasonal variations, assess the effects of land use and pumping on lake functioning, and determine the driving factors of these aquatic systems. Results show an increase in conductivity, hardness, and turbidity when temporary pans dry up and permanent ones are filled with groundwater. Prominent parameters explaining the diversity of aquatic ecosystems are water hardness, conductivity, turbidity, and the presence of vegetation. Seasonality differences in certain parameters suggest the influence of water level fluctuations associated with rainfall, evaporation, and pumping activities. Further, the distinction between turbid pans and those with clear water and vegetation suggests the alternative functioning of pans. Land use had no significant effects, while the effects of pumping are discussed. In times of water scarcity, animals gather around artificially maintained waterholes and foul water with faeces and urine, thus inducing water eutrophication.

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