scholarly journals Responses of African elephants towards a bee threat: Its application in mitigating human–elephant conflict

2016 ◽  
Vol Volume 112 (Number 1/2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mduduzi Ndlovu ◽  
Emma Devereux ◽  
Melissa Chieffe ◽  
Kendra Asklof ◽  
Alicia Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Olfactory Cues ◽  
Human Settlement ◽  
African Elephants ◽  
Defensive Behaviours ◽  
Southern Section

Abstract Human settlement expansion into elephant ranges, as well as increasing elephant populations within confined areas has led to heightened levels of human–elephant conflict in southern African communities living near protected areas. Several methods to mitigate this conflict have been suggested including the use of bees as an elephant deterrent. We investigated whether bee auditory and olfactory cues (as surrogates for live bees) could be used to effectively deter elephants. We evaluated the responses of elephants in the southern section of the Kruger National Park to five different treatments: (1) control noise, (2) buzzing bee noise, (3) control noise with honey scent, (4) honey scent, and (5) bee noise with honey scent. Elephants did not respond or displayed less heightened responses to the first four treatments. All elephants exposed to the bee noise with honey scent responded with defensive behaviours and 15 out of 21 individuals also fled. We concluded that buzzing bees or honey scent as isolated treatments (as may be the case with dormant beehives) were not effective elephant deterrents, but rather an active beehive emitting a combination of auditory and olfactory cues was a viable deterrent. However, mismatches in the timing of elephant raids and activity of bees may limit the use of bees in mitigating the prevailing human–elephant conflict.

Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Free-Ranging African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Kruger National Park, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya J. Kerr ◽  
Candice R. de Waal ◽  
Peter E. Buss ◽  
Jennifer Hofmeyr ◽  
Konstantin P. Lyashchenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
National Park ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Elephants ◽  
Tuberculosis Complex ◽  
Free Ranging

scholarly journals Epidemiology and hypothetical transmission cycles of Trichinella infections in the Greater Kruger National Park of South Africa: an example of host-parasite interactions in an environment with minimal human interactions

Parasite ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Louis J. La Grange ◽  
Samson Mukaratirwa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Transmission Cycles ◽  
Sub Saharan

Knowledge on the epidemiology, host range and transmission of Trichinella spp. infections in different ecological zones in southern Africa including areas of wildlife-human interface is limited. The majority of reports on Trichinella infections in sub-Saharan Africa were from wildlife resident in protected areas. Elucidation of the epidemiology of the infections and the prediction of hosts involved in the sylvatic cycles within specific ecological niches is critical. Of recent, there have been reports of Trichinella infections in several wildlife species within the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP) of South Africa, which has prompted the revision and update of published hypothetical transmission cycles including the hypothetical options based previously on the biology and feeding behaviour of wildlife hosts confined to the GKNP. Using data gathered from surveillance studies and reports spanning the period 1964–2019, confirmed transmission cycles and revised hypothesized transmission cycles of three known Trichinella species (T. zimbabwensis, Trichinella T8 and T. nelsoni) are presented. These were formulated based on the epidemiological factors, feeding habits of hosts and prevalence data gathered from the GKNP. We presume that the formulated sylvatic cycles may be extrapolated to similar national parks and wildlife protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa where the same host and parasite species are known to occur. The anecdotal nature of some of the presented data confirms the need for more intense epidemiological surveillance in national parks and wildlife protected areas in the rest of sub-Saharan Africa to unravel the epidemiology of Trichinella infections in these unique and diverse protected landscapes.

Designing protected areas to conserve riverine biodiversity: Lessons from a hypothetical redesign of the Kruger National Park

2008 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk J. Roux ◽  
Jeanne L. Nel ◽  
Peter J. Ashton ◽  
Andrew R. Deacon ◽  
Ferdinand C. de Moor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park

Exploring Creative Tourism Potential in Protected Areas: The Kruger National Park Case

2020 ◽  
pp. 109634802098353
Author(s):  
Jan-Albert Wessels ◽  
Anneli Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Cultural Tourism ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Convenience Sampling ◽  
Tourism Potential

Creative tourism strategies are often adopted by destinations as a result of its appeal to policy makers, without a serious assessment of tourists’ needs. Although there are significant cultural and heritage resources in and on the periphery of the Kruger National Park (KNP), these resources seem to be inadequately harnessed. The aim of the article is thus to explore the potential of creative tourism as a medium to harness cultural and heritage resources in the KNP by measuring the importance of local community (cultural tourism) elements to tourists when visiting the KNP. Convenience sampling is used to distribute questionnaires to tourists, and 201 responses are used in the data analysis. The results indicate that respondents have a neutral opinion regarding the importance of local community aspects, and recommendations are made to exploit the untapped potential for creative tourism. This study adds to the current debate on creative tourism by assessing its role in protected areas.

scholarly journals Distribution and status of the African elephant Loxodonta africana in South Africa, 1652-1992

Koedoe ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Hall-Martin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Elephants ◽  
Population Growth Rates ◽  
Elephant Population ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Consequent Increase

The historical decline of African elephants to a low of 120 animals in 1920, and their subsequent recovery to over 10 000 is described for the major populations of South Africa. Population growth rates of 6,8 and 6,7 per annum are derived from census and estimates for the Kruger National Park and the Addo Elephant National Park respectively. The reasons for elephant population control in the Kruger National Park, and the impact of elephants on both the Kruger and Addo environments, are discussed. The translocation of young elephants to found new populations is mentioned. The consequent increase of elephant range and numbers in the next decade to a possible maximum of 31 000 km2 and 13 000 animals, is envisaged.

scholarly journals Measurement of concentrations of Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites in free-ranging African Elephants within the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jozua J. Viljoen ◽  
Andre Ganswindt ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
Hendrick C. Reynecke ◽  
Johan T. Du Toit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Reliable Data ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Elephants ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽  
Baseline Concentrations ◽  
The Impact

During the past several years, non-invasive monitoring of steroid metabolites in faeces of elephants has become an increasingly popular technique to generate more information about the causal relationship between hormones and behaviour in both living elephant species. This is important knowledge which can be used to optimise local conservation and wildlife management by finding new strategies for better elephant population management and control. In this context, however, information about an actual involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during assumable stressful events is still limited, especially for wildlife populations. One difficulty in discovering such information is often the lack of reliable data for hormone baseline levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine baseline concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites that could be expected within age classes and between seasons in African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Kruger National Park (KNP ). A total of 374 faecal samples were collected from randomly located family herds in the southern KNP between May 2002 and August 2005. The samples were analysed for immunoreactive concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites using a validated enzyme immunoassay for 3α,11oxo-cortisol metabolites(3α,11oxo-CM). All samples were grouped according to the estimated age class of the subject using a field method based on bolus diameter, and regarding the ecological season collected. No significant differences in faecal 3α,11oxo-CM concentrations were found across age classes (H3 = 7.54; p = 0.057), but the mean 3α,11oxo-CM concentration of samples collected in the dry season (n = 196) was significantly higher than in the wet season (n = 178) (u = 15206.50; p = 0.032), which indicates a possible physiological stress situation due to a decline in food quantity and quality. The information generated in this study represents a reliable data set for baseline concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites for elephants within the KNP and can be used to measure the stressrelated effects of translocations, management actions and the impact of chosen land use activities.

scholarly journals Estimating exposed pulp lengths of tusks in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) : article

2008 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Steenkamp ◽  
W.H. Ferguson ◽  
S.C. Boy ◽  
S.M. Ferreira ◽  
M.N. Bester
Keyword(s):  
Missing Data ◽  
National Park ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
African Elephant ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
African Elephants ◽  
Statistical Property ◽  
Pulp Exposure

Captive and wild African elephants frequently suffer tusk fractures. Several institutions shorten the tusks of captive elephants to reduce fractures and injury as a result of behaviour within enclosures. Fracturing or coronal amputations that expose pulp lead to pain for the elephant. Estimating coronal pulp lengths may thus help to minimise the risk of pulp exposure during amputations. We aimed to determine the length of the pulp beyond the lip margin from an external tusk characteristic. Tusks collected from elephants in Namibia and the Kruger National Park had similar morphological relationships. This statistical property allowed us to correct for missing data in our data sets. Pulp volume and pulp length correlated with tusk circumference at the lip. Even so, the circumference at the lip could not predict the length of the pulp in the crown external to the lip. Our findings suggest that tusks, irrespective of sex or age, amputated further than 300 mm from the lip should not expose pulp.

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