Preliminary observations of elephant (Loxodonta africana, Blumenbach) movements and home range in Zakouma National Park, Chad

Abstract

We used satellite tracking to monitor the movements of three elephants (Loxodonta africana, Blumenbach) in Zakouma National Park (Chad). We studied the movements of two adult females and one adult male from May 2000 to August 2001. All monitored animals restricted their movements to the eastern part of the park until the beginning of the rainy season in May-June. At this time, the animals began to depart from this area, but large movements really begun in July. All animals moved to areas located at 50 km from the park. An attack of poacher forced one male and one female to return to the park. The disturbed female stayed in the park, while the male moved toward the area used by the undisturbed female. The study of movements after the rainy season was possible only for this female. She returned in the park in mid-September. Her movements were shoter after the rainy season, being the shortest during the hot dry season when she stayed very close to permanent water source. The annual home range size of this female was much larger than those observed in other areas in Africa, maybe because of the great uncertainty of living conditions in the park.