Elephant movements, abundance, and use of water sources in Kibale National Park, Uganda
Large herbivores, such as elephants, have been eradicated from large swaths of their historic ranges due to habitat loss and intense hunting pressure. However, in areas where they are still alive, they frequently engage in conflicts with humans due to crop raiding or because their natural habitats are being fragmented, limiting the natural movements of groups of this species. Three years of camera trap data coupled with records of elephant presence from transects recorded over 23 years reveal complex movement patterns of this species across the Kibale National Park, Uganda. We tested if elephant movement was influenced by seasonal changes, by the presence and distance of mature crops in surrounding farmland, or by rainfall or temperature changes. We describe occupancy rate, detection probability, daily movement habits, and group size and structure when visiting water sources. Elephants showed high probability of occupancy and low detection probability at water sources and potentially preferred water sources near crop fields that are located outside the park. Kibale’s elephants move in small family groups and visit water sources at all times of the day but with a preference for sunset and on days with less rain. Understanding forest-living elephants’ movement is crucial to minimize conflicts between elephants and farmers and to understand the dynamics between elephant herd movement and forest dynamics.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Elefantes, Ecología del movimiento, Fragmentación de hábitats, Agricultura, Manejo del daño causado por vida silvestre, |
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