Duffy KJ, Dai X, Shannon G, Slotow R, Page B. 2011. Movement patterns of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in different habitat types. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 41(1): 21–28.

 

In this paper we analyse the daytime movements of African elephants (Loxodonta africana)
in different habitats in the Pongola Game Reserve, South Africa. On average adult males
moved faster than females in all habitat types except when grouped together (then females
moved at the faster male pace). Elephants demonstrated distinct movement patterns in
different habitat types. All the movement parameters indicate that the elephants turned less
the further they were from a large permanent body of water (Jozini Dam) and for males with
increasing distance to the females.Male and female elephants turned more in habitat types
that had favourable resources such as forage and shade, than they did in unfavourable
habitats.Thus, the elephants used a directmovement strategy – turning less –when needing
to get to a destination more quickly (e.g. toward water or mates), rather than significantly
increasing their speed. It is hypothesized that these elephants are optimizing energy efficiency
while still varying their foraging approach and search intensity. Patterns of movement
through a habitatwill affect ecological impacts in that habitat and so habitat-relatedmovement
pattern studies of this type could assist landscape planning (e.g. waterhole design and
distribution) and large herbivore conservation.
Key words: animal speed, energy optimization, habitat selection, path analysis, sinuosity, turning
angle, water availability.

 

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