Spatial Distribution of Elephants versus Human and Ecological Variables in Western Ghana

Emmanuel Danquah

doi:10.1155/2016/8038524

Abstract

An elephant survey was conducted in the Bia-Goaso Forest Block in western Ghana during the wet season month of November 2012 to determine the distribution of elephants and assess the human and ecological variables that affect them. One hundred and thirty 1-kilometre transects were systematically distributed in three strata (high, medium, and low density) based on elephant dung pile density recorded in an initial reconnaissance. Elephant activity was concentrated in southern and mid-Bia Conservation Area, the southern tip of Bia North Forest Reserve, and eastern Mpameso Forest Reserve towards the adjoining Bia Shelter belt, indicating a clumped distribution. Secondary forest, water availability, poaching activity, and proximity to roads and settlements explained a high proportion of variance in elephant distribution. Given that the Bia-Goaso Forest Block forms an important biogeographic corridor between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, more effort should be directed at mitigating the problems such as poaching activity, vehicular traffic, and impacts of settlements that hinder seasonal movements of forest elephants between western Ghana and eastern Cote d’Ivoire.

Highlights

Habitat encroachment by humans presents some of the biggest problems confronting modern wildlife conservation [1]
The study was undertaken in the forest zone of western Ghana in the Bia-Goaso Forest Block (BGFB)
Judging from the proximity of Bia Conservation Area to Bia North FR, it is possible that some elephants might have migrated from the Bia Conservation Area into the Bia North FR at the time of the survey (Figure 3)

Summary

Introduction

Habitat encroachment by humans presents some of the biggest problems confronting modern wildlife conservation [1]. Present human population growth and its attendant increasing demand for space and resources directly affect wildlife habitat quality [2]. The outcomes of habitat encroachment include reduction in wildlife habitat, which sometimes lead to local extinction of some species and human-wildlife conflicts. Many wildlife corridors connecting fragmented habitats are being cleared rapidly for human settlements [3, 4]. Large migratory mammals are especially at risk to this fragmentation. Reference [5] argued that human encroachment leading to wildlife habitat fragmentation may be one of the most serious threats elephants face in Africa

Methods

Results

Conclusion