Fencing for Purpose: A Case Study of Elephants in South Africa

Slotow, Rob

doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-0902-1_6

Cited by 16 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The use of fences in South Africa generally has been effective at limiting elephant movements and potential human-elephant conflict [50], [51]. However, our findings suggest that issues of human-elephant conflict and refuge behavior within fenced reserves need to be addressed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Physiological Stress and Refuge Behavior by African Elephants

2012

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Physiological stress responses allow individuals to adapt to changes in their status or surroundings, but chronic exposure to stressors could have detrimental effects. Increased stress hormone secretion leads to short-term escape behavior; however, no studies have assessed the potential of longer-term escape behavior, when individuals are in a chronic physiological state. Such refuge behavior is likely to take two forms, where an individual or population restricts its space use patterns spatially (spatial refuge hypothesis), or alters its use of space temporally (temporal refuge hypothesis). We tested the spatial and temporal refuge hypotheses by comparing space use patterns among three African elephant populations maintaining different fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations. In support of the spatial refuge hypothesis, the elephant population that maintained elevated FGM concentrations (iSimangaliso) used 20% less of its reserve than did an elephant population with lower FGM concentrations (Pilanesberg) in a reserve of similar size, and 43% less than elephants in the smaller Phinda reserve. We found mixed support for the temporal refuge hypothesis; home range sizes in the iSimangaliso population did not differ by day compared to nighttime, but elephants used areas within their home ranges differently between day and night. Elephants in all three reserves generally selected forest and woodland habitats over grasslands, but elephants in iSimangaliso selected exotic forest plantations over native habitat types. Our findings suggest that chronic stress is associated with restricted space use and altered habitat preferences that resemble a facultative refuge behavioral response. Elephants can maintain elevated FGM levels for ≥6 years following translocation, during which they exhibit refuge behavior that is likely a result of human disturbance and habitat conditions. Wildlife managers planning to translocate animals, or to initiate other management activities that could result in chronic stress responses, should consider the potential for, and consequences of, refuge behavior.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Physiological Stress and Refuge Behavior by African Elephants

2012

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“…Because the utility of a fence is related to the costs of building and maintenance it and its effectiveness in controlling animal movements (e.g. Vercauteren, Lavelle & Hygnstrom ; Slotow ), our findings have economic implications. More research on this topic would be necessary for a full cost‐benefit analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Exclusion of competitively dominant species may trigger a succession of downward cascade events that influence community assembly (Lagendijk et al . ; Slotow ). This shows the importance of a multispecies approach where functionally sympatric groups of animals are considered simultaneously.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For integrative species conservation management, barriers represent a particular concern and challenge because their effects on animal populations and community structure are difficult to predict (Bélisle & St. Clair ; Lagendijk et al . ; Slotow ). Thus, understanding the impacts of artificial and natural barriers on the ranging behaviour of animal species is essential to ensure connectivity among populations and for the successful implementation of conservation strategies for endangered species (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of the effects of artificial and natural barriers on large African carnivores: Implications for interspecific relationships and connectivity

Cozzi

Broekhuis

McNutt

et al. 2013

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Summary1. Physical barriers contribute to habitat fragmentation, influence species distribution and ranging behaviour, and impact long-term population viability. Barrier permeability varies among species and can potentially impact the competitive balance within animal communities by differentially affecting co-occurring species. The influence of barriers on the spatial distribution of species within whole communities has nonetheless received little attention. 2. During a 4-year period, we studied the influence of a fence and rivers, two landscape features that potentially act as barriers on space use and ranging behaviour of lions Panthera leo, spotted hyenas Crocuta crocuta, African wild dogs Lycaon pictus and cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus in Northern Botswana. We compared the tendencies of these species to cross the barriers using data generated from GPS-radio collars fitted to a total of 35 individuals. Barrier permeability was inferred by calculating the number of times animals crossed a barrier vs. the number of times they did not cross. Finally, based on our results, we produced a map of connectivity for the broader landscape system. 3. Permeability varied significantly between fence and rivers and among species. The fence represented an obstacle for lions (permeability = 7Á2%), while it was considerably more permeable for hyenas (35Á6%) and wild dogs and cheetahs ( ! 50%). In contrast, the rivers and associated floodplains were relatively permeable to lions (14Á4%) while they represented a nearly impassable obstacle for the other species (<2%). 4. The aversion of lions to cross the fence resulted in a relatively lion-free habitat patch on one side of the fence, which might provide a potential refuge for other species. For instance, the competitively inferior wild dogs used this refuge significantly more intensively than the side of the fence with a high presence of lions. 5. We showed that the influence of a barrier on the distribution of animals could potentially result in a broad-scale modification of community structure and ecology within a guild of co-occurring species. As habitat fragmentation increases, understanding the impact of barriers on species distributions is thus essential for the implementation of landscape-scale management strategies, the development and maintenance of corridors and the enhancement of connectivity.

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“…Interestingly, the effectiveness of fencing, which is a static, directional method, was reduced when paired with noise, which may be due to the nondirectional nature of sound that can disorient the elephants and cause them to panic. Among the fencing studies meant to reduce provocations, other situational factors such as proximity to highly populated elephant areas, seasonal migration corridors, dense vegetation as well as fence maintenance and upkeep contributed to the efficacy of fencing (Davies et al 2011;Kioko et al 2008;Hayward and Kerley 2009;Slotow 2012).…”

Section: Opportunity-reducing Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife crime: a conceptual integration, literature review, and methodological critique

et al. 2017

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Wildlife crime, including poaching and wildlife trafficking, threaten the existence of particular species. To date, research on wildlife crime has been primarily conducted by those with backgrounds in the biological sciences, however crime scientists, have much to offer in examining wildlife crimes. With this in mind, we aim to highlight general principals of crime science found through an in-depth review of the conservation literature. More specifically, to determine if, and how, different types of wildlife crimes cluster, to identify the existence of interventions for which the mechanisms mirror those found within SCP, and consider their effectiveness. Our review suggests that various types of wildlife crimes concentrate in time and space, among products, along certain routes, and at particular facilities. Further, some overlap exists between mechanisms used to mitigate more traditional crimes and those used to prevent wildlife crimes and protect threatened species. Of note are the attempts by those in the conservation community to increase the risk of crime, remove excuses for non-compliance of rules, and reduce provocations that contribute to particular types of wildlife crime. Given this overlap crime scientists may be able to collaborate with conservationists to draw on the extensive knowledge base of prevention studies to identify potential interventions, analyze their implementation, and evaluate the overall impact of an intervention.

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Fencing for Purpose: A Case Study of Elephants in South Africa

Cited by 16 publications

References 23 publications

Physiological Stress and Refuge Behavior by African Elephants

Physiological Stress and Refuge Behavior by African Elephants

Comparison of the effects of artificial and natural barriers on large African carnivores: Implications for interspecific relationships and connectivity

Wildlife crime: a conceptual integration, literature review, and methodological critique

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