Options for the management of elephants in northern Botswana

Reviews the recent history and status of what can perhaps be considerd the largest population in Africa, the elephant population in northern Botswana which since 1983 has been managed through a policy of non-interference. The population of approximately 70,000 is contained in a range of about 80,00...

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Main Authors: Jonas Chafota, R. Owen-Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IUCN 1996-12-01
Series:Pachyderm
Online Access:https://pachydermjournal.org/index.php/pachyderm/article/view/865
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author Jonas Chafota
R. Owen-Smith
author_facet Jonas Chafota
R. Owen-Smith
author_sort Jonas Chafota
collection DOAJ
description Reviews the recent history and status of what can perhaps be considerd the largest population in Africa, the elephant population in northern Botswana which since 1983 has been managed through a policy of non-interference. The population of approximately 70,000 is contained in a range of about 80,000 sq kms which includes 18,247 sq kms of protected areas, Chobe and Nxai Pan NPs and Moremi GR. The elephant distribution during the dry season is restricted by the availability of surface water. Up to 75% of the population may be confined to 10,000 to 12,000 sq kms mostly within 30 km of the permanent water sources of the Kwando-Linyanti and Chobe Rivers. The impact the animals have exerted and continue to exert on their immediate habitat in the dry season has been a source of much concern, but decisions regarding effective management options are yet to made. The problems associated with the high population and alternative management strategies are outlined. It is suggested that a combination of actions should be coinsidered and implemented.
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spelling doaj-art-0e4a5d0c6e244b5b87f70aaab6778ee92025-08-20T03:48:22ZengIUCNPachyderm1026-28811683-50181996-12-0122110.69649/pachyderm.v22i1.865Options for the management of elephants in northern BotswanaJonas ChafotaR. Owen-Smith Reviews the recent history and status of what can perhaps be considerd the largest population in Africa, the elephant population in northern Botswana which since 1983 has been managed through a policy of non-interference. The population of approximately 70,000 is contained in a range of about 80,000 sq kms which includes 18,247 sq kms of protected areas, Chobe and Nxai Pan NPs and Moremi GR. The elephant distribution during the dry season is restricted by the availability of surface water. Up to 75% of the population may be confined to 10,000 to 12,000 sq kms mostly within 30 km of the permanent water sources of the Kwando-Linyanti and Chobe Rivers. The impact the animals have exerted and continue to exert on their immediate habitat in the dry season has been a source of much concern, but decisions regarding effective management options are yet to made. The problems associated with the high population and alternative management strategies are outlined. It is suggested that a combination of actions should be coinsidered and implemented. https://pachydermjournal.org/index.php/pachyderm/article/view/865
spellingShingle Jonas Chafota
R. Owen-Smith
Options for the management of elephants in northern Botswana
Pachyderm
title Options for the management of elephants in northern Botswana
title_full Options for the management of elephants in northern Botswana
title_fullStr Options for the management of elephants in northern Botswana
title_full_unstemmed Options for the management of elephants in northern Botswana
title_short Options for the management of elephants in northern Botswana
title_sort options for the management of elephants in northern botswana
url https://pachydermjournal.org/index.php/pachyderm/article/view/865
work_keys_str_mv AT jonaschafota optionsforthemanagementofelephantsinnorthernbotswana
AT rowensmith optionsforthemanagementofelephantsinnorthernbotswana