ACTIF Funds Aerial Census of Addo Elephant

The third largest park within the South African National Park system (SANParks), the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) is home to a population of Addo elephants that has seen significant population growth in the past 80 years. While these majestic animals are a major element of the park’s ecosystem, unchecked elephant populations can impact the delicate equilibrium of the natural landscape and adversely affect biodiversity. As agents of environmental change, they can have widespread and devastating impacts. While SANParks has carefully adapted management systems to mitigate the impacts of elephants on the environment, calves are surviving in ever greater numbers, and fragile ecosystems like the thicket and Nama-Karoo vegetation in the AENP are today threatened.

To help preserve the wildlife ecosystem, AENP’s elephant management plan relies on mimicking calves’ natural mortality rates. The administration of an immuno-contraception vaccine to elephant cows has proven to be effective to mimic conditions within wild populations. To ensure a successful immuno-contraception program, it is necessary to conduct accurate counts of the total number of sexually mature adult cows in a population. A precise tally of the elephant family groups was the primary objective of this first complete aerial census in the Main Camp/Colchester section of AENP.

Aerial Evaluation

Flying in helicopters 200 feet above ground in a 500-meter grid pattern, a team of specialized observers identify each family group, counting and recording yearlings without disturbing the elephants’ natural behavior. The number obtained in this first count is compared to the following days count, during which each herd is broken into groups according to age and sex, carefully accounting for the matriarch and bulls. Evaluating small families dispersed over the entire range makes counting more accurate and reduces the possibility of redundancy.

The results are incredibly precise, providing AENP with up to date statistics which will contribute to the overall long-term elephant management plan and health of the Greater Addo National Park. The funds provided by ACTIF also allowed the Addo team to ear-notch an additional three Black Rhino in the Park and launch a new initiative of signage around the major waterholes, asking guests to turn off their car engines to limit the impact of noise on elephant communication.