The 2006 census revealed that there are 12,427 elephants in the Kruger Park, up from 7,000 since culling stopped, but 40 lower than last year.
A total of 725 calves of less than one year were recorded giving a calf percentage of 5.8%. This is the highest calving percentage recorded in 11 years. in the far north, the calf percentage was 7.6%, but this proportion declined towards the south with 6.3% in the north, 5% in the central and 4.8% in the south.
The slight decline in population can be partially explained by trends in the populations of the neighboring reserves. In the private and provincial reserves to the west of the Kruger Park the populations increased by 734 from 2226 to 2960. Such an increase is not possible from breeding alone, so it must have resulted from migrations from the Kruger Park. Also, a recent survey in the part of Limpopo National Park in Mozambique which abuts the Kruger Park to the east, revealed a surprising 630 elephants! Many of these must have come from the Kruger Park.
Trends in the four regions of the Kruger Park were also interesting. North of Shingwedzi River the population declined, whilst to the south between the Shingwedzi and Olifants rivers, the population increased. This suggests a southward movement of the elephants. Between the Olifants and Sabie rivers the population also declined, whilst south of the Sabie it increased.
The overall census totals of the Kruger Park and all its neighbors increased by 1324 (9%) from 14,693 to 16,017.
Courtesy Kruger Park Times.
Comments