Water-Body Use by Asian elephants in Southern Sri Lanka

Jennifer Pastorini,Karin Isler,Prithiviraj Fernando,H G Nishantha,H K Janaka

doi:10.1177/194008291000300406

Jennifer Pastorini, Karin Isler + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/194008291000300406

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Abstract

We assessed water-body use by elephants through monitoring elephant signs around them. Elephant footprints and dung piles were recorded at 25 water bodies fortnightly for one year. Elephants preferred perennial water bodies and avoided those with temporary human dwellings. Human activities did not significantly affect elephant use of water bodies, suggesting low incidence of activities and behavioral adaptation to them by elephants. Elephant signs at perennial water bodies increased in the dry season. The monitoring technique was able to detect differences in elephant densities in two areas and establish the presence of herds even at low densities. We conclude that outside protected areas, large perennial water bodies represent a preferred resource for elephants, and that assessing elephant signs around water bodies is a useful technique for monitoring elephant presence for management and research purposes.

Highlights

Water availability may have a strong influence on the ranging behavior and distribution of wildlife in general and elephants in particular [1,2,3]
We conclude that outside protected areas, large perennial water bodies represent a preferred resource for elephants, and that assessing elephant signs around water bodies is a useful technique for monitoring elephant presence for management and research purposes
Elephant use of water bodies could be categorized into four groups, “none,” “low,” “high,” and “always,” with low use represented by elephant signs observed during less than 50% of visits and high use during more than 50% of visits

Summary

Introduction

Water availability may have a strong influence on the ranging behavior and distribution of wildlife in general and elephants in particular [1,2,3]. Tanks range in size from small seasonal ponds to large perennial reservoirs thousands of hectares in surface area. Elephants regularly use such tanks both within and outside protected areas. Increasing water availability is one of the main methods of habitat enrichment for elephants, and considerable conservation funds are spent in the development of water bodies within protected areas in Sri Lanka No information is available on whether elephants preferentially use particular types of water bodies

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