Presence Of Elephants Research Articles

Environmental context shapes the relationship between grass consumption and body size in African herbivore communities.

Though herbivore grass dependence has been shown to increase with body size across herbivore species, it is unclear whether this relationship holds at the community level. Here we evaluate whether grass consumption scales positively with body size within African large mammalian herbivore communities and how this relationship varies with environmental context. We used stable carbon isotope and community occurrence data to investigate how grass dependence scales with body size within 23 savanna herbivore communities throughout eastern and central Africa. We found that dietary grass fraction increased with body size for the majority of herbivore communities considered, especially when complete community data were available. However, the slope of this relationship varied, and rainfall seasonality and elephant presence were key drivers of the variation-grass dependence increased less strongly with body size where rainfall was more seasonal and where elephants were present. We found also that the dependence of the herbivore community as a whole on grass peaked at intermediate woody cover. Intraspecific diet variation contributed to these community-level patterns: common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) ate less grass where rainfall was more seasonal, whereas Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) grass consumption were parabolically related to woody cover. Our results indicate that general rules appear to govern herbivore community assembly, though some aspects of herbivore foraging behavior depend upon local environmental context.

Wildlife corridor degradation and human‐wildlife conflict: A case study from Tanzania

AbstractIn many African countries, anthropogenic pressure and poor governance have led to the degradation of wildlife corridors, which are important for the long‐term viability of wildlife populations. Yet the nature of such degradation is poorly understood, hindering our ability to reverse these trends. We studied a deteriorating wildlife corridor between Katavi and Mahale National Parks in western Tanzania. Using satellite imagery, we found that the corridor still contains large areas of natural vegetation, diverse terrain and numerous water sources. There has nonetheless been increasing encroachment of the corridor by people between 1990 and 2017, exemplified by a 9% reduction in the area covered by miombo woodlands and a fourfold increase in the area covered by settlements and agricultural land. We used three additional methods to assess deterioration over the last three decades: elephants' movement routes, peoples' perception of animal populations and incidents of human–wildlife conflicts. Elephants were primarily found only in the parts of the corridor adjacent to the two national parks. Tracking of elephant spoor revealed a much‐diminished corridor use, suggesting that seemingly ‘healthy’ habitat within a wildlife corridor will not necessarily predict the presence of elephants or perhaps of other species. Other factors particularly the increasing presence of humans in the area are possibly more important for predicting elephant use of a corridor. Interviews with local residents and conservation experts suggested that, although use by some animal species has declined, many ungulates were still seen in the corridor and neighbouring villages, some of which were associated with human–wildlife conflict. All villages around the corridor were affected by the human–wildlife conflict; this comprised crop damage, livestock injury or killing and attacks on humans. We conclude that corridors could be restored if people were restricted from settling, but this would require governments to enact policies that balance the conservation of Natural Capital with survival of human populations; the latter may involve internal migration in response to growing population pressures.

All aboard the 'Elephant Express', a practical solution for human-elephant coexistence

One of the most significant challenges for elephant conservation is managing negative interactions that occur where people and elephants use the same space and compete for resources. Human–elephant conflict (HEC) incidents often manifest in direct impacts to humans or elephants. However, some HEC situations result in long-term risk and chronic stress among communities living with elephants. Indirect impacts or opportunity costs, such as people being disadvantaged by the presence of elephants are harder to quantify and are not often addressed. In the eastern Okavango Panhandle, in northern Botswana, 17,500 people share space and resources with 18,000 elephants. Elephants here use distinct, historical corridors on a daily basis, moving from dryland resources to the wetlands of the Okavango Delta. Confrontations with elephants occur most frequently where these elephant corridors cross the main service road in the area, increasing fear among people walking to work, children going to school, parents sending children to school, and the elderly or expectant mothers accessing medical care. This constant fear contributes to chronic stress and can drive negative perceptions towards elephants. A novel intervention has been introduced to help reduce the costs of HEC and foster coexistence, in the Okavango Panhandle area—"The Elephant Express". The bus service was established through a multi-stakeholder collaboration to provide primary school children and medical personnel safe transport across elephant corridors. The complementary bus service have reduced stress from living with elephants, increased attendance and performance in schools, and facilitated improved access to medical care.

Lunar phase as a dynamic landscape of fear factor affecting elephant crop raiding potential

Risk assessment relies on cost–benefit analysis by prey species in relation to predator behavior. The lunar cycle can have strong influences on the way that predator and prey species behave in their environment as light levels can influence activity patterns. By examining how lunar phase influences behavior, we may be able to better predict instances of human–wildlife conflict. As part of the Elephants and Sustainable Agriculture in Kenya project, over 5 years of study have been dedicated to mitigating human–elephant conflict in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor in southern Kenya, focusing on the construction of deterrent fences and the collection of environmental data in and bordering the Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary. Elephant presence around crop fields was hypothesized to have a negative relationship with lunar light levels because of an increase in perceived risk from typically greater human activity with moonlight, and a positive relationship with increased darkness during the waning moon phases. The lunar phase data were compared to elephant presence within 12 m of experimental crop fields along the boundary of their wild habitat and human agricultural land to provide insight for potential crop raiding events. Elephants were present significantly less during the full and gibbous moon phases when compared to the new moon phase, and significantly more during the new and waning moon phases. Our findings are being shared with the farmers living in the KWC and may be useful to others living in high HEC areas by providing a form of early warning system that also may have broader applications in the mitigation of other human–wildlife interactions.

Infrared barriers as a detection tool to reduce human–elephant conflicts

Elephant incursions into farms represent an important challenge for local communities and farmers living around protected areas, but also for the long‐term conservation of elephants. Early detection of elephants is a promising technique to reduce elephant presence in farms and human settlements reducing human–elephant interactions. In this study we investigated the potential of infrared barriers to detect African savannah elephants Loxodonta africana. We designed and tested battery‐operated photoelectric beam sensors in 12 locations of southern Tanzania and assessed the elephant detection accuracy through camera trapping for a total of 246 days. We obtained 1803 recordings of wildlife crossing the barriers range (30 different species of mammals and several bird and bat species). Our results show that infrared barriers, when located at 1.75–2.2 m high, detect 100% of adult elephants and ∼ 29% of subadult elephants. Giraffes were the only other wildlife species detected by the barriers. Interestingly, large vehicles were also detected, which might be helpful to prevent motorized poaching. Given the gregarious behaviour of elephant families, and the limited access for vehicles, infrared barriers may represent an interesting and cost‐effective detection system for early warning strategies in elephant‐dominated areas of Africa and Asia or for other large‐sized visitors.

African Forest elephants persist in Guinea-Bissau but require an emergency conservation plan

AbstractThe status of the forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis in Guinea-Bissau has been in doubt since the last assessment in 2006. In 2020–2022 we carried out field surveys to update the species' status. We found elephant signs within an area of c. 1,000 km2. Microsatellite genotyping of faeces identified four males. Females could not be individually identified but their presence was confirmed by molecular sex determination. Camera trapping (2,075 camera-trap days) recorded 824 photos in 24 independent sequences, involving three males and two presumed females. The continued presence of elephants in Guinea-Bissau raises hope for the species in the region, but urgent efforts are needed to refine population range and size estimates, increase protected area coverage, and reduce ongoing and impending habitat loss. An emergency conservation action plan is a priority.

Effects of a hydropower project on a high-value Asian elephant population.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading contributors to the endangered status of species. In 2006, the Nakai Plateau contained the largest known Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and the population was among those with the highest genetic diversity reported for Asian elephants. In 2008, completion of the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric dam inundated much of the Plateau, resulting in the loss of 40% of elephant habitat. We studied elephant presence, movements, and the incidence of human-elephant conflict (HEC) on the Nakai Plateau and surrounding areas from 2004 to 2020, before and for 12 years after dam completion. To examine contemporary population dynamics in the Nakai elephants, we used genetic sampling to compare minimum population numbers, demography, and levels of genetic diversity from the wet and dry seasons in 2018/2019, 10 years after dam completion, with those reported in a pre-dam-completion genetic survey. After dam completion, we found a major increase in HEC locally and the creation of new, serious, and persistent HEC problems as far as 100 km away. While we were unable to compare estimated population sizes before and after dam completion, our data revealed a decrease in genetic diversity, a male-biased sex ratio, and evidence of dispersal from the Plateau by breeding-age females. Our results raise concerns about the long-term viability of this important population as well as that of other species in this region. Given that hydropower projects are of economic importance throughout Laos and elsewhere in southeast Asia, this study has important implications for understanding and mitigating their impact.

Human impacts on mammal communities in Rio Campo Nature Reserve, Equatorial Guinea

AbstractEquatorial Guinea in central Africa hosts rich biodiversity and a network of protected areas (PAs). However, infrastructure development has facilitated access to previously remote forests. This has likely increased poaching in PAs, thereby complicating efforts of agencies tasked with protecting threatened mammals. Reserva Natural de Río Campo (RNRC) in Equatorial Guinea was previously identified as a priority area for large mammals due to the presence of elephants and great apes and includes habitat for a diverse mammal community of commonly hunted species. To assess mammalian diversity in RNRC, we conducted a camera trap survey in 2017 and 2019. We used a two‐step modelling approach to quantify environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing mammal groups. We detected 32 terrestrial mammal species, including endangered forest elephant, western gorilla, chimpanzee, giant pangolin and white‐bellied pangolin. We found bushbuck and sitatunga closer to human‐dominated areas, while other common species were, in general, further from development. Monkey and pangolin abundance increased inward from the RNRC boundary. Endangered species appear restricted to northeast RNRC which connects to Campo Ma'an National Park in Cameroon. We recommend using our inventory and distributions of threatened mammals as starting points to determine effectiveness of future anti‐poaching and management strategies on mammal populations.

Determining Factors Of The Spatial Distribution Of Sumatra Elephant Track Activities in Pemerihan Resort Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

The movement of Sumatran elephants from forests to villages and agricultural lands triggers elephant-human conflicts. The increase in conflict between Sumatran elephants and humans has caused a drastic decline in the Sumatran elephant population. The decline in the Sumatran elephant population indicates the importance of the conservation efforts carried out on the results of research studies related to the traces of Sumatran elephant activities. This study aims to analyze the relationship between activity traces and the characteristics of the Sumatran elephant habitat at Pemerihan Resort. The research was carried out from July 2021 to January 2022. The direct observation carried out in the observation line is 1 km long and 250 m wide (4 transect lines) with 4 repetitions. The results showed that the spatial distribution of Sumatran elephant activity traces is related to habitat characteristics, namely land cover type (secondary forest), topographic class (flat), distance from water sources (<1000 m), and distance from settlements (1000-2000 m). Traces of activity can be interpreted as an indicator of knowing the presence of Sumatran elephants that can prevent and minimize conflict levels. Management of the habitat and population of Sumatran elephants through enrichment of feed and captive activities is needed as a form of Sumatran elephant conservation efforts.
 Keywords: activity traces, habitat, Pemerihan Resort, Sumatran elephant

Who is adjusting to whom?: Differences in elephant diel activity in wildlife corridors across different human-modified landscapes

The global impact of increased human activities has consequences on the conservation of wildlife. Understanding how wildlife adapts to increased human pressures with urban expansion and agricultural areas is fundamental to future conservation plans of any species. However, there is a belief that large wild free-ranging carnivores and ungulates, cannot coexist with people, limited studies have looked at wildlife movements through differing human-dominated landscapes at finer spatial scales, in Africa. This information is vital as the human population is only going to increase and the wildlife protected areas decrease. We used remote-sensor camera traps to identify the movement patterns of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) through six wildlife corridors in Botswana. The wildlife corridors were located in two different human-dominated landscapes (agricultural/urban), with varying degrees of human impact. While we found that elephants use corridors in both landscapes, they use the urban corridors both diurnally and nocturnally in contrast to agricultural corridors which were only nocturnal. Our results provide evidence for temporal partitioning of corridor use by elephants. We identified that seasonality and landscape were important factors in determining the presence of elephants in the corridors. Our findings demonstrate that elephant diel patterns of use of the wildlife corridor differs based on the surrounding human land-uses on an hourly basis and daily basis, revealing potential adaptation and risk avoidance behaviour.

Fruit Availability Influences Forest Elephant Habitat Use in a Human Dominated Landscape, Campo-Ma’an, Southern Cameroon

Background and Research Aim African forest elephants ( Loxodonta cyclotis) are critically endangered yet research on factors influencing their resource use is limited in Central Africa. We assessed the influence of fruit availability, land use types, and anthropogenic activity on forest elephant presence and relative abundance in the southwest part of the Campo-Ma’an Technical Operational Unit (CMTOU) to better understand elephant habitat use in human dominated systems and inform elephant management strategies. Methods We used 17 camera trap stations and surveyed 17 line transects to monitor forest elephant presence and relative abundance as a function of fruit availability, tree species richness, and land use types. Our study area spanned a gradient of human disturbance and included a National Park (NP), Forest Management Unit (FMU), and Community Land (CL). Results Forest elephants were more likely to occur in areas with increased fruit availability and tree species richness. Also, the likelihood of their presence was higher in CL than in FMU and NP. Elephant relative abundance was negatively affected by human activities such as hunting and logging. The relationship between elephant relative abundance and fruit availability was stronger in CL and NP as compared to the FMU. Elephant relative abundance was higher during the rainy season. Conclusion Forest elephant habitat use was positively affected by fruit availability across land use types, and negatively affected by human activities in the southwest part of the CMTOU. Implications for Conservation Continued monitoring of elephant responses to food availability in CMTOU is warranted to track changes in elephant habitat use. Knowledge of the distribution of fruiting trees consumed by forest elephants may allow managers to predict hotspots of habitat use, and to therefore develop effective management strategies.

Diet DNA reveals novel African Forest elephant ecology on the grasslands of the Congo Basin

AbstractElephants are essential ecological engineers, creating and maintaining landscape structure and ecosystem function. The recently distinguished and critically endangered forest elephant is currently classified as a selective, non‐destructive frugivorous browser that maintains forest diversity, while the savanna elephant is a mixed feeder, often pushing over trees while maintaining grasslands. The presence and diets of forest elephants on grasslands and the potential maintenance of these systems remain largely unexplored. In the ecotone between the Guinea‐Congolian forest and Sudanian‐Guinean savanna ecosystems in Garamba National Park, DRC, we investigated forest elephant diet selection as a function of sex, age, and habitat using diet DNA (dDNA) metabarcoding of non‐invasively collected dung. GPS collar data were used to determine annual habitat use. Dietary niche partitioning was assessed among megaherbivores in the grasslands. Fecal samples represented the diet of individuals within each habitat, providing valuable insight into the plant biodiversity. Ecological patterns of diet were also revealed using a taxonomically free exact sequence variance approach, highlighting useability in a poorly characterized region. In the early wet season, these typically frugivorous forest elephants were consuming mostly grasses in both the woodland and grassland habitats and showing no sexual dimorphism in diet selection when in the same habitats. However, males were greater risk‐takers, entering the human‐altered landscape to forage on fruit. The forest elephants play a distinctive role within this tropical grassland when compared to other megaherbivores and utilize the unique ecosystem throughout the year. This elephant population is exhibiting behavioral plasticity and shifting their gardening efforts to a novel resource in the grasslands as opposed to their standard role in the forests, which is key to understanding their impact as ecosystem drivers within this landscape. This shift in behavior may result in this recovering elephant population playing a functional role in the restoration and maintenance of these grasslands.

Urban expansion and infrastructure development reduce habitat suitability for Asian elephants in southwestern China

AbstractConservation interventions for threatened species must be based on accurate assessments of the effects of anthropogenic pressures on habitat suitability. We used multiscale multivariable species‐distribution modeling to evaluate habitat suitability for an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population in Shangyong Reserve, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. We investigated the scales at which measurements of environmental variables best reflected elephant habitat selection, and examined whether these responses changed over 2 decades (2000–2010 and 2011–2020) in response to 20 environmental variables, including 14 variables reflecting landscape fragmentation, the extent of buildings, and transport infrastructure. Elephant presence was sensitive to the scale of each variable, and the effects differed among variables within and between decades. More than half of the variables influenced elephant presence at coarse scales of 8 or 16 km, including 12 variables reflecting anthropogenic pressures in 2000–2010 and 10 in 2011–2020. Overall, multivariate models with variables at their optimal scales had higher discrimination than models at uniformly fine scales of 1 km or 2 km. The extent of suitable habitat for elephants declined by 24% over 2 decades. Less than half of elephant habitat was located within Shangyong Reserve (49% in 2000–2010, 40% in 2011–2020), indicating the importance of managing suitable habitat beyond reserve boundaries. Roads and buildings reduced the probability of elephant presence, with effects that extended beyond their immediate footprint. We advocate that infrastructure be planned with buffers, ≥8 km wide, between roads or buildings and core elephant habitat. Multiscale multivariable species‐distribution modeling should be employed to ensure that all suitable habitat for the remaining fragmented elephant populations in Yunnan is identified, mapped, and protected.

元江-李仙江流域亚洲象生境适宜性评价——基于荟萃分析和遥感大数据分析

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 元江-李仙江流域亚洲象生境适宜性评价——基于荟萃分析和遥感大数据分析 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202106241680 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 第二次青藏高原综合科学考察研究（2019QZKK0402）；国家自然科学基金项目（41971239，41461017） Habitat suitability evaluation of Asian elephants in the Yuanjiang-Lixianjiang River Basin based on meta-analysis and remote sensing big data Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: The second comprehensive scientific expedition to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(2019QZKK0402);The National Natural Science Foundation of China(41971239，41461017) 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:生境适宜性评价是物种保护和生境管理与规划的基础。近几十年来，云南境内野生亚洲象数量剧增，外扩迁移事件频发，而新迁入区域生境适宜状况因物种出现点数据缺乏而难以评价，掣肘迁移亚洲象保护与风险防范应急。以亚洲象新近迁入的元江-李仙江流域为案例区，采用荟萃分析统计亚洲象生境评价因子，结合相关性分析和方差膨胀因子独立性检验，筛选出生境评价因子；基于开源遥感数据产品量化生境因子，综合主成分分析和层次分析计算生境评价因子权重，采用生境适宜性指数（Habitat Suitability Index，HSI）模型评价元江-李仙江流域亚洲象生境适宜性，并分析其景观格局。结果表明：（1）元江-李仙江流域亚洲象生境适宜性空间格局主要表现为由下游至上游呈递减趋势，最适生境主要分布于流域下游段，而流域上游段适宜生境少；（2）元江流域生境适宜性低于李仙江流域，且其生境斑块连接度更低、破碎化更严重；（3）2021年"北移象群"北迁沿程生境适宜性由西南向东北呈下降趋势。基于亚洲象生境适宜性评价结果，科学引导野生亚洲象迁入适宜生境区，以规避人象冲突，保障外迁亚洲象群及其活动区居民生命财产安全，服务于区域生物多样性保护与乡村振兴。 Abstract:Habitat suitability evaluation is a basis for species conservation, habitat management and planning. Over the past decades, the number of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan Province of China has increased sharply, and elephants' emigration from their original habitats frequently occurred. However, habitat quality in the newly inhabited areas is often poorly known due to lack of records in presence of Asian elephants, which hinders Asian elephant protection and risk prevention. The rapid development of remote sensing big data mapping technology provides new data sources for habitat suitability evaluation studies, and offers the possibility of identifying suitable habitats for species on a large regional scale more accurately and finely. In this study, a remote sensing big data-driven habitat suitability evaluation system for Asian elephants is constructed. We selected the Yuanjiang-Lixianjiang River Basin newly immigrated by Asian elephants as a case area, used meta-analysis to search for environmental factors related to Asian elephants habitat evaluation, and screened out habitat suitability evaluation factors by combining correlation analysis with variance inflation factor test. Subsequently, all habitat suitability evaluation factors were quantified based on open-source remote sensing data products and their weights were calculated using principal component analysis and analytic hierarchy process. Finally, we used a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model to determine the habitat suitability of Asian elephants in the study area and analyzed landscape patterns of habitats of Asian elephants. The results show that (1) the habitat suitability of Asian elephants in the Yuanjiang-Lixian River Basin decreased gradually upstream. The optimal habitat mainly occurred in the downstream basin, with a small distribution in the midstream basin and almost no distribution in the upstream basin. (2) The Yuanjiang River Basin was less suitable for Asian elephants than the Lixian River Basin because it had less connected and more fragmented habitat patches, which cannot meet the minimum home range requirements of Asian elephant populations and make it difficult to sustain a long-term survival of the "northward migration elephant herd". (3) The habitat suitability decreased along the northward migration route of elephant herd called "northward migration elephant herd" roaming in 2021 with the decreased distribution of natural broad-leaved forests along the way. The findings provide a basis for scientifically guiding the elephant herd into suitable habitats to avoid the conflicts between the human and wild elephant and thereby to ensure the safety of the elephant herd and the affected residents, which will serve for the regional biodiversity conservation and rural revitalization. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

An assessment of Sumatran elephant presences (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in Kotaagung Utara (Lampung, Indonesia) as a potential tourism attraction

Abstract. Setiawan A, Monik DT, Charles Y, Lestari ER, Ruciyansah Y, Anwar Z. 2021. An assessment of Sumatran elephant presences (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in Kotaagung Utara (Lampung, Indonesia) as a potential tourism attraction. Biodiversitas 22: 5397-5407. Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan (KPH) Kotaagung Utara is a region of approximately 56.02 ha, consisting of 8.82% forest cover and 91.18% non-forest cover. This region has a high diversity of flora and fauna and has potential as a tourist destination with various and unique biophysical attractions. One of the special features of this location is the presence of Sumatran elephants [Elephas maximus sumatranus (Temminck, 1847)]. Wild elephants in KPH are a tourism potential that can be developed to become a tourism attraction. The objectives of this research were to find out the elephant home ranges and the right window of time to observe the Sumatran elephants and assess safety, security, and convenience considerations for visitors to observe wild elephants. The method used in the research was an observation, and the results were qualitative data. The data collection’s elephants movement through the use of GPS Collar from 2017-2020. The study identified that there are 16 wild elephants known as the Bunga group. The elephants can be observed from 7:30 to 12:00 am or 3:00 to 6:00 pm, with a duration of 3 hours per day. Steps can be taken to increase visitor’s safety, security and convenience with the building of a treehouse, evacuation route, use of binoculars, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“Human elephant conflict in changing land-use land-cover scenario in and adjoining region of Buxa tiger reserve, India”

The land use land cover changes (LULCC) in and around wildlife habitat are one of the major driving forces behind frequent human elephant conflict (HEC). The present study aims to determine the spatiotemporal LULC changes and its impact on Human – Elephant conflict in and adjoining Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR). Landsat TM and OLI images of 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2019 were used and supervised classification using maximum likelihood classification algorithm applied to classify the LULC attributes. Each sign of elephant presence was recorded using GPS used for corridor mapping. The recorded sign of conflict was collected, used for settlement based human elephant conflict probability zone identification mapping by areal interpolation method. We found that (1990 - 2019) dense forest, surface water bodies, scrub land and agricultural fallow land decreased by 184.04 sq km, 21.94 sq km, 142.48 sq km, and 130.21 sq km respectively. On the other hand crop land, sparse vegetation, tea garden, open forest, degraded forest and built up areas increased by 119.74 sq km, 90.96 sq km, 87.05 sq km, 57.02 sq km, 19.07 sq km and 32.21 sq km respectively. The visual overlay method was performed between LULC map, and settlement based HEC probability map, therefore impact of spatiotemporal LULC change on HEC was determined. It finds out moderate to very high HE conflict settlement zone lies where nearby forest tract either degraded or large areas of open forest, scrub land replaced into crop fields and settlements. In addition, elephant sign along the broad gauge rail line were collected on foot, recorded using GPS used to prepared accident prone susceptibility map by Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation technique to estimate where accidents were more likely to occur due to the concentration of elephant activity. It finds out high to very high accident prone susceptible zone lies in between Rajabhatkhawa station (st) – Damanpur st, Gorapara st- Rajabhatkhawa st, and railway line within Hamiltonganj range. The study wants to draw attention to the concerned authority and policy makers on that there is a need of long term land use planning to save BTR forest and its biodiversity as well as need for proper mitigate method for HE conflict for peaceful coexistences of both the species.

Analysis of Landscape Connectivity among the Habitats of Asian Elephants in Keonjhar Forest Division, India

Land development has impacted natural landforms extensively, causing a decline in resources and negative consequences to elephant populations, habitats, and gene flow. Often, elephants seek to fulfill basic needs by wandering into nearby human communities, which leads to human–elephant conflict (HEC), a serious threat to conserving this endangered species. Understanding elephant space use and connectivity among their habitats can offset barriers to ecological flow among fragmented populations. We focused on the Keonjhar Forest Division in Eastern India, where HEC has resulted in the deaths of ~300 people and several hundred elephants, and damaged ~4100 houses and ~12,700 acres of cropland between 2001 and 2018. Our objectives were to (1) analyze elephant space use based on their occupancy; (2) map connectivity by considering the land structure and HEC occurrences; (3) assess the quality of mapped connectivity and identify potential bottlenecks. We found that (1) the study area has the potential to sustain a significant elephant population by providing safe connectivity; (2) variables like forests, precipitation, rural built-up areas, cropland, and transportation networks were responsible for predicting elephant presence (0.407, SE = 0.098); (3) five habitat cores, interconnected by seven corridors were identified, of which three habitat cores were vital for maintaining connectivity; (4) landscape features, such as cropland, rural built-up, mining, and transportation networks created bottlenecks that could funnel elephant movement. Our findings also indicate that overlooking HEC in connectivity assessments could lead to overestimation of functionality. The study outcomes can be utilized as a preliminary tool for decision making and early planning during development projects.

The Relationship Between Feeding Patch Quality and Fodder Species of Wild Elephants in the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

We examined the relationship between the presence or absence of elephants in patches of land and the most common ecological factors, such as fodder species, water bodies, resting places, elephant movement trails, and soil types, across ten transect sites in the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS), Bangladesh. By ground-truthing 360 line transects and 1080 quadrate blocks, we recorded a total of 184 fodder species, including 71 monocotyledons, 58 dicotyledons, and 55 domesticated plant species. Three categories of domesticated fodder species were recorded that consisted of 13 cultivated crops, 24 vegetables, and 18 homestead garden plants. We also applied dung-pile dissection techniques to a total of 250 dung piles between August 2018 and July 2019. Highly statistically significant differences among the abundances of different fodder species and presence of elephants were found across different transect sites. The average fodder species density was found to be 3.44 plant species per site per km2, while the elephant density was 0.63 individuals per site per km2. A significant strong correlation was found between fodder species density and the number of elephants among the transect sites (P = 0.02). The numbers of ground-recorded fodder species were higher than those found in dung piles. The presence of elephants across transect sites was influenced not only by fodder species but also by other ecological factors, such as water bodies, resting places, movement trails, and soil types.

Social and Seasonal Factors Contribute to Shifts in Male African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Foraging and Activity Patterns in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Simple SummaryAfrican savannah elephants are able to greatly modify the vegetation around them through their foraging activities. Accordingly, studying the factors that affect elephant foraging behaviour during different seasons are important to understand their impact on the environment and will also aid in predicting how elephants might react to potential threats such as climate change and land transformation. This article aimed to reinforce current knowledge regarding elephant foraging behaviour by examining how the behaviour is affected across (a) season (wet versus dry); (b) time of day (before or after noon); (c) presence or absence of other elephants; and (d) reproductive state; for six adult elephant bulls monitored in Kruger National Park. Results indicated that elephant foraging behaviour is indeed affected by seasonal and social factors. This highlights how these animals are able to adjust their foraging behaviour during the day to aid in thermoregulation, or during different seasons to fulfil their nutritional requirements. Furthermore, this study opens the door for further research regarding how reproductive activity affects the foraging behaviour of male elephants.African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) are well-known as ecosystem engineers with the ability to modify vegetation structure. The present study aimed to examine how male elephant foraging behaviour is affected across (a) season (wet versus dry); (b) time of day (before or after noon); (c) presence or absence of other elephants; and (d) reproductive state (musth versus no musth). Six radio-collared adult elephant bulls were observed twice per week from June 2007–June 2008 in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Using generalized linear mixed effect modeling, results indicate that elephant bulls graze more during the wet season and browse more during the dry season. To potentially offset the costs associated with thermoregulation during the heat of the day, KNP elephants spent more time foraging during the morning, and more time resting during the afternoon. Male elephants also foraged significantly less when they were associated with females compared to when they were alone or with other males. This is likely due to male–female associations formed mainly for reproductive purposes, thus impeding on male foraging behaviours. In contrast, the condition of musth, defined by the presence of related physical signs, had no significant effect on foraging behaviour.

How do African elephants utilize the landscape during wet season? A habitat connectivity analysis for Sioma Ngwezi landscape in Zambia.

The influence of environmental factors on the distribution and persistence of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) is pertinent to policy makers and managers to formulate balanced plans for different land‐use types.The study focuses on movement of elephants and how they utilize foraging areas in Sioma Ngwezi landscape in Zambia by answering the following questions: (1) Which environmental variables and land‐cover class predict the movement of elephants during the wet season in Sioma Ngwezi landscape? (2) What is the wet season suitable habitat for elephants in Sioma Ngwezi landscape? (3) What are the major wet season movement corridors for elephants in Sioma Ngwezi landscape?We used GPS telemetry data from the collared elephants to assess habitat connectivity. Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) and linkage mapper were the tools used to predict habitat suitability, movement corridors, and barriers in the landscape during the wet season.The study identified elevation, land cover, and NDVI as the most important environmental predictors that modify the dispersal of elephants in the landscape during the wet season. Additionally, a total of 36 potential wet season corridors were identified connecting 15 core areas mainly used for foraging and protection from poachers in the landscape. Of these, 24 corridors were highly utilized and are suggested as priority corridors for elephant movement in the landscape.The identified wet season habitats and functional corridors may help to combat elephant poaching by patrolling areas with high relative probability of elephant presence. The findings may also help abate human–elephant conflict such as crop‐raiding by managing identified corridors that run into agriculture zones in the game management area.