Patch-occupancy survey of elephant (&lt;i&gt;Loxodonta africana&lt;/i&gt;) surrounding Livingstone, Zambia

David A Youldon,Bruce A Schulte,Christine K Larsen,Joanne S Briffitt,Anastasia Kilundo,Lackson Chama,Michaela D Channings,Jackie Abell,Dabwiso Sakala

doi:10.4102/koedoe.v59i1.1372

Abstract

Wild elephants represent the biggest human–wildlife conflict issue in Livingstone, Zambia. However, little is known about their movements. This survey investigated elephants’ habitat use outside a core protected and fenced zone that forms part of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia. Using ‘patch-occupancy’ methodology, indications of elephant presence (feeding behaviour, dung and tracks) were surveyed. The survey aimed to assist proposed future monitoring exercises by defining the geographical extent that should be considered to improve accuracy in species abundance estimates. Results were supplemented using collected indications of elephant presence from prior monitoring exercises, and during this survey. Elephant presence was confirmed up to 8 km from the boundary of the protected core habitat, focussed in: (1) an unfenced zone of the national park, (2) along a road leading from the national park to the Dambwa Forest to the north and (3) along two rivers located to the west (Sinde River) and east (Maramba River) of the core area. Detection probability of elephant presence was high using these methods, and we recommend regular sampling to determine changes in habitat use by elephants, as humans continue to modify land-use patterns.Conservation implications: Identification of elephant ranging behaviour up to 8 km outside of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in southern Zambia will assist in managing human– elephant conflict in the area, as well as in assessing this seasonal population’s abundance.

Highlights

In fragmented land-use mosaics, the home ranges of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) cover a combination of protected and unprotected areas (Douglas-Hamilton, Krink & Vollrath 2005; Graham et al 2007; Karidozo & Osborn 2015)
With all sources of elephant presence considered, elephant occupancy is concentrated within 8 km of the boundary of the Old Zoological Park’ (OZP)
Presence is focussed around three apparent corridors: (1) around the Sinde River to the west of the OZP, (2) the Dambwa Road, that runs from the OZP along the west of the Dambwa Forest, and (3) around the Maramba River to the east of the OZP

Summary

Introduction

In fragmented land-use mosaics, the home ranges of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) cover a combination of protected and unprotected areas (Douglas-Hamilton, Krink & Vollrath 2005; Graham et al 2007; Karidozo & Osborn 2015). The ranging by elephants in human-dominated landscapes inevitably leads to interaction, and conflict, with communities. Wild elephants represent the biggest human–wildlife conflict issue in Livingstone, Zambia. Understanding elephants’ use of land outside of protected areas is considered important to the future conservation and management of African elephant populations (Graham et al 2007; Hoare 2000; Okello et al 2015)

Methods

Results

Conclusion