Media Release: Elephant spotted in Knysna Forest
Back to all newsDate: 9th January 2014
An elephant was recently photographed by a trap camera, placed in the Knysna forest, by the Landmark Foundation, set-up for leopard research. The Foundation’s exciting leopard research involves determining the leopard population status in the Garden Route.
The footage includes photographs of an elephant whose tusks, trunk and legs are visible but unfortunately the forehead shape as well as sex organs and ear-notch patterns are not visible, for identification purposes.
SANParks’ scientists have, in recent years, moved away from relying on photographic techniques for population status determination, due to potential disturbances to the elephants. The focus of studies now focuses on non-invasive hormone studies using dung, to determine the reproductive potential of these elusive elephants.
However, opportunistic photographs, such as these recent photographs taken by the Landmark Foundation’s camera trap, are always a very welcome addition to SANParks’ elephant research database, existing since 1987.
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications:
Tel: 044 302 5633
Enquiries:
Nandi Mgwadlamba
Tel: 044 302 5633
cell: 078 702 9663 or email: nandi.mgwadlamba@sanparks.org
Knysna Elephants
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H. erectus
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Elephants in Knysna forest
Last edited by H. erectus on Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Heh,.. H.e
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H. erectus
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Re: Elephants in Knysna forrest
Always wondered what happened to these animals??? At one stage
there was a count of 13 still roaming,... then one in particular died
and since I seem to remember a privacy blackout was instilled for their
protection!!!???
there was a count of 13 still roaming,... then one in particular died
and since I seem to remember a privacy blackout was instilled for their
protection!!!???
Heh,.. H.e
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Sharifa
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H. erectus
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Re: Elephants in Knysna forest
These elephants were always known to be
totally unprotected and free roaming wild
animals,...to a point where they dwindled
fast,..
I'm just grateful for having experienced a
brief moment in my life where wilderness
was still intact and untouched and there
seemed no emmediate urgency to protect
what is currently left for destitude in our
hands. Elephant attack,...who know's..
Heard about these ellies, from numerous
visits to that area,..and as a child always
scared to meet them unexpectedly,...
when travelling those roads, what if,?????.
Sad to note these days,... animals have no
democratic right,....freedom of movement!!!!
totally unprotected and free roaming wild
animals,...to a point where they dwindled
fast,..
I'm just grateful for having experienced a
brief moment in my life where wilderness
was still intact and untouched and there
seemed no emmediate urgency to protect
what is currently left for destitude in our
hands. Elephant attack,...who know's..
Heard about these ellies, from numerous
visits to that area,..and as a child always
scared to meet them unexpectedly,...
when travelling those roads, what if,?????.
Sad to note these days,... animals have no
democratic right,....freedom of movement!!!!
Heh,.. H.e
Re: Elephants in Knysna forest
http://www.knysnaplettherald.com/news/N ... sna-forest
Elephant spotted in Knysna forest
KNYSNA NEWS & VIDEO - Oupoot the Knysna elephant has made her appearance again.
Nandi Mgwadlamba, spokesperson for SANParks, said the elephant was first spotted two weeks ago by Siviwe Nondobo, one of SANParks rangers, who was out to collect dung samples for their scientist Lizette Moolman van der Vyver working on the Knysna elephant and other terrestrial mammals.
“On his way there, he first saw a caracal and then later Oupoot herself.”
Field workers from Mountain to Ocean then also saw the elephant on Wednesday, March 9 and took pictures and a video of her.
”SANParks’ confirmation of the presence of one elephant in the Knysna forest does not mean the others are not there. It is suspected there are between one and five elephants. The location of their whereabouts cannot be disclosed.”
Mgwadlamba explained that SANParks' monitoring techniques are nonintrusive and involve gathering data on, for example, dung circumference, feeding signs and also taking dung samples for elephant hormone studies.
“The hormone studies are aimed at determining the reproductive potential of individuals in the group as well as assessing the level of stress hormones released when the elephants move through certain areas.
Watch a short video below:
“The estimated 1 000 elephants that historically roamed the Outeniqua/Tsitsikamma area most certainly played an ecological role. Data on - and therefore an understanding of - the ecological role of elephants and their potential impact on biodiversity in the Southern Cape are sparse, and the few scientific studies that were conducted took place after the elephants were confined to the forest habitat.
"It is believed that the historical Southern Cape elephant population’s range was confined to the forest parts around Knysna as a result of human settlement and agricultural development. The Knysna elephants may therefore have been cut off from other habitat types that they historically visited over a century ago.”
“The absence of elephants in these habitats today may carry negative consequences for the elephants’ forage needs and for biodiversity.
“A popular belief that the Knysna elephants are genetically unique, was challenged by recent studies showing that these elephants once belonged to a larger, continuous Southern African population, of the same subspecies as the African elephant, Loxodonta africana. These elephants’ genetic uniqueness, or rather lack thereof, has been used by some as a measurement of their conservation value.
“Basing elephants’ conservation value on their genetic status alone, however, ignores their potential role as an ecological role-player.
“Elephants are a ‘keystone species’, essential for the integrity of the ecosystem. Elephants affect ecological processes through their feeding, digging and movement, and contribute to biodiversity by dispersing seeds, opening thickets, making browse more available to smaller herbivores, making water accessible in dry river beds, and promoting nutrient recycling.”
Elephant spotted in Knysna forest
KNYSNA NEWS & VIDEO - Oupoot the Knysna elephant has made her appearance again.
Nandi Mgwadlamba, spokesperson for SANParks, said the elephant was first spotted two weeks ago by Siviwe Nondobo, one of SANParks rangers, who was out to collect dung samples for their scientist Lizette Moolman van der Vyver working on the Knysna elephant and other terrestrial mammals.
“On his way there, he first saw a caracal and then later Oupoot herself.”
Field workers from Mountain to Ocean then also saw the elephant on Wednesday, March 9 and took pictures and a video of her.
”SANParks’ confirmation of the presence of one elephant in the Knysna forest does not mean the others are not there. It is suspected there are between one and five elephants. The location of their whereabouts cannot be disclosed.”
Mgwadlamba explained that SANParks' monitoring techniques are nonintrusive and involve gathering data on, for example, dung circumference, feeding signs and also taking dung samples for elephant hormone studies.
“The hormone studies are aimed at determining the reproductive potential of individuals in the group as well as assessing the level of stress hormones released when the elephants move through certain areas.
Watch a short video below:
“The estimated 1 000 elephants that historically roamed the Outeniqua/Tsitsikamma area most certainly played an ecological role. Data on - and therefore an understanding of - the ecological role of elephants and their potential impact on biodiversity in the Southern Cape are sparse, and the few scientific studies that were conducted took place after the elephants were confined to the forest habitat.
"It is believed that the historical Southern Cape elephant population’s range was confined to the forest parts around Knysna as a result of human settlement and agricultural development. The Knysna elephants may therefore have been cut off from other habitat types that they historically visited over a century ago.”
“The absence of elephants in these habitats today may carry negative consequences for the elephants’ forage needs and for biodiversity.
“A popular belief that the Knysna elephants are genetically unique, was challenged by recent studies showing that these elephants once belonged to a larger, continuous Southern African population, of the same subspecies as the African elephant, Loxodonta africana. These elephants’ genetic uniqueness, or rather lack thereof, has been used by some as a measurement of their conservation value.
“Basing elephants’ conservation value on their genetic status alone, however, ignores their potential role as an ecological role-player.
“Elephants are a ‘keystone species’, essential for the integrity of the ecosystem. Elephants affect ecological processes through their feeding, digging and movement, and contribute to biodiversity by dispersing seeds, opening thickets, making browse more available to smaller herbivores, making water accessible in dry river beds, and promoting nutrient recycling.”
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H. erectus
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Richprins
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Re: Elephants in Knysna forest
Very nice! 
Not sure if they're not a subspecies...same as Addo?
Not sure if they're not a subspecies...same as Addo?
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