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 A note on the presence of the Elephant Louse Haematomyzus elephantis piaget (Mallophaga: Rhynchophthirina) in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.E.O Braack
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
African Elephant ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Ethiopian Region ◽  
Indian Elephant

First described in 1869, this rather unusual insect has been found to be a common ectoparasite on the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus), and has been collected in low numbers from the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) in nearly all of sub-saharan Africa (Ledger 1979, The arthropod parasites of vertebrates in Africa south of the Sahara (Ethiopian Region) Vol. IV.

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 Chromosome analysis in the Kruger National Park: Mitotic and meiotic studies in the African elephant loxodonta africana

Koedoe ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Wallace
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Chromosome Analysis ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
African Elephant ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Mitotic Chromosomes ◽  
Meiotic Chromosomes

The present report is published because of the paucity of publication on the mitotic chromosomes of the African elephant Loxodonta africana, and because it is the fisrt study in which the meiotic chromosomes of the species are described.

scholarly journals Transferrin and Haemoglobin types in the African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana)

Koedoe ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R Osterhoff ◽  
E Young ◽  
I. S Ward-Cox
Keyword(s):  
Random Sample ◽  
National Park ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
African Elephant ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Biochemical Polymorphism ◽  
Blood Samples

In a random sample of 84 elephants from the Kruger National Park and five elephants from the Addo Elephant National Park, biochemical polymorphism in the serum transferrins could be established. It seems that elephants in the Kruger and Addo Parks are genetically similar but further studies are indicated to confirm these preliminary findings. For the haemo- globin investigations 109 blood samples were available, all originating from the Kruger National Park and all revealing only one type of haemoglobin.

scholarly journals The use of Oripavine Hydrochloride (M99) in the drug-immobilization and marking of wild African elephant (Loxodonta Africana Blumenbach) in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
U. De V. Pienaar ◽  
J. W. Van Niekerk ◽  
E Young ◽  
P Van Wyk ◽  
N. Fairall
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
African Elephant ◽  
Kruger National Park

This paper was accepted for publication on the 16th August, 1965. - Editor

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.

scholarly journals Changes in number and distribution of hippoptamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in the Sabie River, Kruger National Park, during the 1992 drought

Koedoe ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P.C. Viljoen
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Hippopotamus Amphibius ◽  
Reduced Flow

The 1991/92 drought in Southern Africa and the effect of the resultant reduced flow of the Sabie River on hippopotami was investigated. Hippopotami are counted annually in the Kruger National Park's (KNP) major rivers as part of the park's monitoring pro- gramme. Two additional aerial surveys were conducted to document changes in hippopotamus population densities in the Sabie River during the drought period. The hippopotamus population decreased during the drought by 12.6 to 672 animals between July 1991 and October 1992. The highest and lowest hippopotamus densities recorded were 11.6 and 2.2 animals/km river length respectively in different river sections. Only 12 hippopotamus mortalities were recorded at the end of the 1992 dry season (October).

scholarly journals Plasma testosterone levels in relation to musth in the male African Elephant

Koedoe ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J Hall-Martin ◽  
L.A Van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
African Elephant ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Long Term Study

A long-term study of the behaviour and ecology of the African elephant Loxodonta africana was begun in the Addo Elephant National Park in 1976. During the period June 1976 to March 1979 regular observations were made on all animals. Every individual elephant could be recognised (the population was less than 100 animals) and every individual was seen several times a month. From the start of the study records were kept of whether the temporal gland was secreting or not for every animal at every observation.

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