The decline in elephant numbers in Rwenzori and Kabalega Falls National Parks, Uganda

Abstract

Summary The present work was initiated to determine the status of the elephant in Uganda following reports of overpopulation in the national parks. Aerial counts were carried out each September from 1973 to 1976 in Rwenzori National Park and in Kabalega Falls National Park, including the contiguous game reserves to the south. The results showed a significant decline in elephant numbers between 1973 and 1976. By 1976 the populations in Rwenzori and Kabalega had fallen to about 26% and 17% respectively of the 1973 level. The decline is attributed to a massive increase in poaching within the parks. These findings necessitate a completely new assessment of the elephant problem in Uganda and published recommendations to cull are obviously no longer relevant. Résumé La présente étude a été entreprise pour déterminer la situation de I'éléphant en Ouganda en fonction des rapports de surpopulation dans les parcs nationaux. Des mois de septembre entre 1973 et 1976 au Parc National du Rwenzori et au Parc National de Kabalega Falls, y compris les réserves de chasse contigües au sud. Les résultats montrent une diminution significative du nombre d'éléphants entre ces deux années. En 1976, les populations au Rwenzori et au Kabalega sont tombées respectivement à 26 et 17% des effectifs de 1973. Le déclin est attribuéà une augmentation massive du braconnage à l'intérieur des parcs. Ces découvertes nécessitent une approche entiérement nouvelle du problème des éléphants en Ouganda et les publications antérieures recommandant un prélèvement ne sont manifestement plus appropriées.

Minimum population size, genetic diversity, and social structure of the Asian elephant in Cat Tien National Park and its adjoining areas, Vietnam, based on molecular genetic analyses

“…Integration of social groups is not surprising given the intelligence, extreme adaptability, and social nature of elephants. For instance, more than one mtDNA haplotype was found in three of nine family units sampled in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda) elephant population (Nyakaana et al 2001), which had suffered severe poaching during the mid1970s (Eltringham and Malpas 1980). Visual observation on family groups had also indicated a breakdown in social structure of the surviving family groups, leading to a coalescence of separate matrilines (Eltringham and Malpas 1980;Abe 1994), possibly as a collective defense strategy (Douglas-Hamilton 1973;Laws 1974).…”

“…For instance, more than one mtDNA haplotype was found in three of nine family units sampled in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda) elephant population (Nyakaana et al 2001), which had suffered severe poaching during the mid1970s (Eltringham and Malpas 1980). Visual observation on family groups had also indicated a breakdown in social structure of the surviving family groups, leading to a coalescence of separate matrilines (Eltringham and Malpas 1980;Abe 1994), possibly as a collective defense strategy (Douglas-Hamilton 1973;Laws 1974). Similarly, it is thought that the presence of more than one haplotype within clans in Sengwa, northern Zimbabwe, could also possibly be an outcome of the repeated culling, albeit of entire family groups, there (Charif et al 2005).…”

Elephant are not beetles: implications of the ivory trade for the survival of the African elephant

“…In more open areas, where elephants respond to poaching by aggregating, such as has been described in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Serengeti National Parks (Laws et a/., 1970;Eltringham & Malpas, 1980;Dublin and Douglas-Hamilton, 1987 and 87 per cent of the adult females have breasts (Poole, 1989b). Since female elephants start to develop breasts after about 9 months of pregnancy (Moss, 1988) and then, typically, continue to suckle one calf until the birth of the next (Lee and Moss, 1986), the absence of breasts indicates either delayed first reproduction or unusually long inter-calf intervals.…”

African elephants: population trends and their causes

“…Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks showed increases in the 1960s followed by catastrophes in the late 1970s, with declines of the order of 80-90 per cent (Douglas-Hamilton, 1980;Douglas-Hamilton etal, 1980;Eltringham and Malpas, 1980). Kidepo National Park had a migratory population, but from a count made in 1981, the carcass ratio suggested a decline of 65 per cent in the previous four years ( DouglasHamilton, 1983a).…”