Research that has been implemented
Researchers have found that where Africa has a threatened population of African elephants, game reserves within South Africa have become overpopulated by this species and therefore some reserves are starting to limit the reproduction rates of the elephants in that area or reserve by using forms of birth control since the 1990's. In Makalali Game Reserve the reproduction rate has increased due to the sustainable habitat which is maintained and created, therefore due to the high numbers increasing the habitat, it is starting to become destroyed as the space is not large enough for the quantity of individuals.
Kariega Big Five Game Reserve is a volunteer organisation carrying out many projects on the conservation of different species. At this reserve they carry out research projects on the African Elephant and monitor their Impact. They monitor things such as movement patterns, utilization of the habitat and vegetation impact using methods such as radio tracking and elephant identification sheets.
The DSWF (David Shepard Wildlife Foundation) found that in 1979 there were 1.3million African Elephants left In the wild, today there is around 450,000 alive. A report was published by Great Elephant Census in 2016 which found that around 30% of the African Elephant population were killed for their ivory which is about 144,000 individuals between 2007 and 2014.
Scientists have found that Wild African Elephants become more stressed than elephants found in Serengeti National Park, a game reserve which helps to protect species from threats such as hunting and habitat destruction. Due to the reserve having no boundaries, it allows animals to come and go as they please therefore limiting stress as they have no need to feel threatened or stressed. However this can lead to elephants walking into danger instead of avoiding it, therefore threatening their own lives as they are not protected while they are not on the reserve. They carried out tests on Elephant faeces in order to monitor the stress hormone.
By Chelsea Dimelow (M2)
Researchers have found that where Africa has a threatened population of African elephants, game reserves within South Africa have become overpopulated by this species and therefore some reserves are starting to limit the reproduction rates of the elephants in that area or reserve by using forms of birth control since the 1990's. In Makalali Game Reserve the reproduction rate has increased due to the sustainable habitat which is maintained and created, therefore due to the high numbers increasing the habitat, it is starting to become destroyed as the space is not large enough for the quantity of individuals.
Kariega Big Five Game Reserve is a volunteer organisation carrying out many projects on the conservation of different species. At this reserve they carry out research projects on the African Elephant and monitor their Impact. They monitor things such as movement patterns, utilization of the habitat and vegetation impact using methods such as radio tracking and elephant identification sheets.
The DSWF (David Shepard Wildlife Foundation) found that in 1979 there were 1.3million African Elephants left In the wild, today there is around 450,000 alive. A report was published by Great Elephant Census in 2016 which found that around 30% of the African Elephant population were killed for their ivory which is about 144,000 individuals between 2007 and 2014.
Scientists have found that Wild African Elephants become more stressed than elephants found in Serengeti National Park, a game reserve which helps to protect species from threats such as hunting and habitat destruction. Due to the reserve having no boundaries, it allows animals to come and go as they please therefore limiting stress as they have no need to feel threatened or stressed. However this can lead to elephants walking into danger instead of avoiding it, therefore threatening their own lives as they are not protected while they are not on the reserve. They carried out tests on Elephant faeces in order to monitor the stress hormone.
By Chelsea Dimelow (M2)
The Success
The research around elephant population control and the immunocontraception programme carried out in the Makalali Game Reserve has shown positive results from 2002 as the growth rate of the game reserves elephant population has been minimal and maintained since.
The success of the many projects of the Kariega Big Five Game Reserve and surrounding reserves has not been as successful as the researchers hoped as the elephant population is decreasing at a quicker rate than they can reproduce as the demand and popularity for ivory increases. Organisations such as the DSWF are working towards cutting down on illegal poaching for ivory therefore resulting in a boost of the elephant population in areas where demand for ivory is very high.
The research carried out into the stress levels of elephants that lived inside and outside of the game reserve of the Serengeti National Park has been successful in showing that there is a difference according to where the animals live. Researchers and scientists found that the stress hormone was higher in the dung of elephants who lived outside of the protected reserve as apposed tot eh elephants who lived in the protected area. The researchers came to the conclusion that the elephants can sense when they are in a dangerous area and therefore become more stressed. These results have helped to improve elephant welfare in the reserve to help the inside and surrounding populations to become less stressed by feeling safer.
By Aimee Davis (M2)
The research around elephant population control and the immunocontraception programme carried out in the Makalali Game Reserve has shown positive results from 2002 as the growth rate of the game reserves elephant population has been minimal and maintained since.
The success of the many projects of the Kariega Big Five Game Reserve and surrounding reserves has not been as successful as the researchers hoped as the elephant population is decreasing at a quicker rate than they can reproduce as the demand and popularity for ivory increases. Organisations such as the DSWF are working towards cutting down on illegal poaching for ivory therefore resulting in a boost of the elephant population in areas where demand for ivory is very high.
The research carried out into the stress levels of elephants that lived inside and outside of the game reserve of the Serengeti National Park has been successful in showing that there is a difference according to where the animals live. Researchers and scientists found that the stress hormone was higher in the dung of elephants who lived outside of the protected reserve as apposed tot eh elephants who lived in the protected area. The researchers came to the conclusion that the elephants can sense when they are in a dangerous area and therefore become more stressed. These results have helped to improve elephant welfare in the reserve to help the inside and surrounding populations to become less stressed by feeling safer.
By Aimee Davis (M2)