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.

Vocal stress associated with a translocation of a family herd of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Bioacoustics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jozua Jakobus Viljoen ◽  
Andre Ganswindt ◽  
Christopher Reynecke ◽  
Angela S. Stoeger ◽  
William Richard Langbauer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Elephants

Mitigating the Impact of Large Mammals on Wooden Electrical Distribution Poles in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 023006
Author(s):  
Samantha K. Page-Nicholson ◽  
Gareth Tate ◽  
Constant Hoogstad ◽  
Megan Murison ◽  
Megan Diamond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Electrical Distribution ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals ELEPHANT (LOXODONTA AFRICANA) DIETS IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA: SPATIAL AND LANDSCAPE DIFFERENCES

2006 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqui Codron ◽  
Julia A. Lee-Thorp ◽  
Matt Sponheimer ◽  
Daryl Codron ◽  
Rina C. Grant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
Kruger National Park

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 Social and Seasonal Factors Contribute to Shifts in Male African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Foraging and Activity Patterns in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3070
Author(s):  
Kara du du Plessis ◽  
Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt ◽  
Henk Bertschinger ◽  
Bruce Crossey ◽  
Michelle Deborah Henley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Seasonal Factors

African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) are well-known as ecosystem engineers with the ability to modify vegetation structure. The present study aimed to examine how male elephant foraging behaviour is affected across (a) season (wet versus dry); (b) time of day (before or after noon); (c) presence or absence of other elephants; and (d) reproductive state (musth versus no musth). Six radio-collared adult elephant bulls were observed twice per week from June 2007–June 2008 in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Using generalized linear mixed effect modeling, results indicate that elephant bulls graze more during the wet season and browse more during the dry season. To potentially offset the costs associated with thermoregulation during the heat of the day, KNP elephants spent more time foraging during the morning, and more time resting during the afternoon. Male elephants also foraged significantly less when they were associated with females compared to when they were alone or with other males. This is likely due to male–female associations formed mainly for reproductive purposes, thus impeding on male foraging behaviours. In contrast, the condition of musth, defined by the presence of related physical signs, had no significant effect on foraging behaviour.

scholarly journals Development of the tush and tusk and tusklessness in African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Koedoe ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E.J. Raubenheimer
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Tooth Germ ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
Permanent Tooth ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
African Elephant ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Embryologic Development

The embryologic development of the tush and tusk of the African elephant was studied by means of serial histologic sections prepared from elephant embryos with masses varying between Ig and 240 g. Statistics on tusklessness obtained during a four year population control programme in the Kruger National Park were analysed and compared with those reported in other elephant reserves in Southern Africa. Maxillae of eight elephant embryos, the maternal histories of which were available in six cases, were radiographed, dissected and examined microscopically. This study has shown that the tush and tusk develop from one tooth germ in a deciduous to permanent tooth relationship. Tusklessness was found to be unilateral or bilateral and associated with either the absence or presence of a tush. The possible causes of the differences in the frequency of bilateral tusklessness in different elephant populations are discussed.

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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