International Journal of
Biodiversity and Conservation

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-243X
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJBC
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 679

Full Length Research Paper

Population size estimates and distribution of the African elephant using the dung surveys method in Rubondo Island National Park, Tanzania

Simon Mwambola
  • Simon Mwambola
  • School of Life Sciences and Bio-engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Jasper Ijumba
  • Jasper Ijumba
  • School of Material, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Wickson Kibasa
  • Wickson Kibasa
  • Tanzania National Parks, Rubondo Island National Park, P. O. Box 3134, Arusha, Tanzania.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Emmanuel Masenga
  • Emmanuel Masenga
  • Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P. O. Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Ernest Eblate
  • Ernest Eblate
  • Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P. O. Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Linus Munishi
  • Linus Munishi
  • School of Life Sciences and Bio-engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 08 July 2015
  •  Accepted: 07 October 2015
  •  Published: 30 June 2016

Abstract

A study to estimate population size and distribution of elephants in the Rubondo Island National Park (RINP) was conducted between March and July 2014. It involved elephant dung survey methods. In estimating elephant dung pile density, a total of 217 dung piles were enumerated in 58 transects (each 1 km). The on-site dung decay rate computed from 100 marked fresh dung piles was estimated to be 0.01542 per day. By combining estimated dung pile density, on-site decay rate and defecation rate of 17 dung piles per day, the study found an estimate of about 102 elephants (95% CI, 72-144). Furthermore, results of this study indicate that, elephants were found to be more concentrated on the central and northern zones, which are the areas of the park that have some open glades allowing elephant to access the area easily to lake shores. The information generated from the study can be incorporated into setting up future management strategies for elephant conservation in RINP.

Key words: Rubondo Island National Park (RINP), distance sampling, dung pile density, decay rate.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

Back to Vol. 8 No. 6
Back to articles
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
CONFERENCES