The Assessment Of Elephant Population Size And Distribution Patterns In The Mago National Park

The subspecies of the African elephant, Loxodonta africana knochenhaueri, was studied in thernMago National Park to determine population numbers, distribution by seasons and migrationrnroutes. The current poaching situation, population age structure and the size of the animalsrnhome-range were also assessed. The study was carried out between June 1997 and April 1998.rnThe population size of elephant was estimated indirectly from the droppings using line transectrnmethod within a 1,564 km2 area. The total estimate of the elephant population for the MagornNational Park was between 380 and 442. The observed density for the whole park was 0.18rnelephant!km2. Elephant numbers Were also estimated directly from sightings. The maximumrnnumber observed in a herd was 182.rnInformation on the age structure (determined from hind footprint lengths) indicates that thernmajority of the population was largely composed of subadult males, adult females andrnintermediates. Yearlings and juveniles Were very few.rnObservations and information from the local people on elephant migration and movementrnpatterns suggest that some of the elephants move south to Murle Controlled Hunting Arearntravelling about 43 km outside the park areas. The total range traversed from north to south byrnelephants ofMago is about 129 km. The calculated average home-range is 1,597 km2rn• A total ofrn82 plant species that elephants feed on were collected and identified.rnThe study also indicates that poachers have made intensive exploitation of elephants forrndifferent purposes. The availability of modem fire arms to the local people in the South Omornhas made poaching a serious problem. For example, a total of37 elephants were killed for ivoryrnbetween December 1996 and April 1998. Most of the poaching activities took place in the dryrnseason.rnThe presence of beehives in the Mago National Park has also contributed for the serious declinernof wild animals and contraction of their range. A total of ten thousand beehives were estimatedrnfor the whole park areas.

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