An investigation on population structure and ecology of the African elephants (Loxodonta africana) was carried out in Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia during the wet and dry seasons of 2020 –2021. Sample counts using distance sampling of the African elephants were carried out in an area of 1,410 km2. The total population estimated was 756 individuals, and the mean population density estimated was 0.53/km2. Among these, females constituted 52.12% and males 36.07%. The remaining 11.8% of the population was young of both sexes. It was difficult to categorize the young into male and female in the field, as their primary sexual characteristics were not easily visible. Male to female sex ratio was 1.00:-1.42. Age structure was dominated by adults, which constituted 53.83% of the total population. Sub-adults comprised 19.11%, juveniles contributed 15.18% and calves accounted for 12.11% of the population. The herd size ranged from 1 to 149 individuals and the mean herd size during wet and dry seasons were 16.5 and 50.25, respectively. The African elephants were distributed in four habitat types: grassland, woodland, montane forest and riverine habitats in the study area. They were observed more in the riverine vegetation types during the dry season. Relative abundance of food resources, green vegetation cover and water availability in the area were the major factors governing their distribution in the present study area.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.