Unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in South Africa

This study assessed the reasons why some mature elephant bull introductions to game-fenced properties have been unsuccessful. Between 1998-2000 71 adult bulls from Kruger NP were transferred to 15 properties. Break-outs, circumstances where bulls broke out of a functional electrified perimeter fe...

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Main Authors: Marion Garaï, Richard Carr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IUCN 2001-12-01
Series:Pachyderm
Online Access:https://pachydermjournal.org/index.php/pachyderm/article/view/1062
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author Marion Garaï
Richard Carr
author_facet Marion Garaï
Richard Carr
author_sort Marion Garaï
collection DOAJ
description This study assessed the reasons why some mature elephant bull introductions to game-fenced properties have been unsuccessful. Between 1998-2000 71 adult bulls from Kruger NP were transferred to 15 properties. Break-outs, circumstances where bulls broke out of a functional electrified perimeter fence, or a release boma and a perimeter fence and did not return, occurred in 5 properties. Observations suggest the 8 bulls involved had not developed a respect for electric fencing, but this investigation was unable to identify particular common factors that may lead to break-outs. However, several factors appear to influence break-outs including: the construction and electrification components used in the release boma; the age, social staus and number of bulls introduced; the proximity to their previous range; and the presence of established founder family groups. These are discuss and related to specific break-outs, and recommendations associated with each are reviewed. Suggests the most important aspect to introducing and establishing elephants in a new environment and specifically into small, confined areas is the training period in the release boma, and if this involves initiation to electric fencing it is at this point a lasting respect must be developed.
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spelling doaj-art-b792b2390ad84e4ca54ac55df7bdc32e2025-08-20T02:29:22ZengIUCNPachyderm1026-28811683-50182001-12-0131110.69649/pachyderm.v31i1.1062Unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in South AfricaMarion GaraïRichard Carr This study assessed the reasons why some mature elephant bull introductions to game-fenced properties have been unsuccessful. Between 1998-2000 71 adult bulls from Kruger NP were transferred to 15 properties. Break-outs, circumstances where bulls broke out of a functional electrified perimeter fence, or a release boma and a perimeter fence and did not return, occurred in 5 properties. Observations suggest the 8 bulls involved had not developed a respect for electric fencing, but this investigation was unable to identify particular common factors that may lead to break-outs. However, several factors appear to influence break-outs including: the construction and electrification components used in the release boma; the age, social staus and number of bulls introduced; the proximity to their previous range; and the presence of established founder family groups. These are discuss and related to specific break-outs, and recommendations associated with each are reviewed. Suggests the most important aspect to introducing and establishing elephants in a new environment and specifically into small, confined areas is the training period in the release boma, and if this involves initiation to electric fencing it is at this point a lasting respect must be developed. https://pachydermjournal.org/index.php/pachyderm/article/view/1062
spellingShingle Marion Garaï
Richard Carr
Unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in South Africa
Pachyderm
title Unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in South Africa
title_full Unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in South Africa
title_fullStr Unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in South Africa
title_short Unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in South Africa
title_sort unsuccessful introductions of adult elephant bulls to confined areas in south africa
url https://pachydermjournal.org/index.php/pachyderm/article/view/1062
work_keys_str_mv AT mariongarai unsuccessfulintroductionsofadultelephantbullstoconfinedareasinsouthafrica
AT richardcarr unsuccessfulintroductionsofadultelephantbullstoconfinedareasinsouthafrica