Assessment Of Body Condition Of African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) In North East Of Etosha National Park, Namibia: How It Relates To Strongyle Parasite Egg Counts And Nutrition Value Of F

ABSTRACT

Elephants like most animals have different body condition, which in many cases is usually a reflection of their body fat content, food availability, presence or absence of diseases or disorders. Body condition in elephants and other factors that might affect it are not well studied. This study investigated the body condition of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) around the Mushara Waterhole in Etosha National Park, Namibia. The study focussed on possible correlations of body condition to strongyle parasite egg counts and nutrition value of the elephant diet within the park. Data were collected over a period of two years and about 63 elephant bulls were studied. Body condition was determined using a body condition index which allocated scores to six body parts of the elephant. The six parts of the elephants assessed for body condition were: thoracic region, temporal depression, scapula, flank area, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bone. Strongyle parasite eggs were counted from fresh faeces of pre-identified elephant bulls. The nutrition value of elephant diet was determined through dung analyses for moisture, calcium, phosphate, ash, crude fibre, fat, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre. Results revealed that body condition of elephants was not correlated to strongyle parasite egg counts. The strongyle parasite eggs were not present in large numbers to negatively impact their body condition. In 2012, half of the elephant population had less than 1375 strongyle parasite eggs, while the other half of the population had more than 1375. In 2013, the median of the strongyle parasite egg counts in the elephant population was 2138. There was no correlation between elephant body condition and the nutrition parameters analysed. The nutrient levels found in the elephant diet met the minimum requirements set for elephants. On average the diet of elephants contained the following: moisture (4.58%), ash (6.51%), fat (1.90%), phosphorus (0.17%), calcium (1.07%), crude fibre (51.21%), acid detergent fibre (60.13%) and neutral detergent Fibre (66.08%). This study revealed that the body condition of elephants around the Mushara waterhole was good. The information regarding the status of elephant body condition can be useful to the park management especially when allocating trophy hunting quotas.