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Tracking the movements of translocated elephants in Malaysia using satellite telemetry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Michael Stüwe ,
Jasmi B. Abdul ,
Burhanuddin Mohd. Nor  and
Christen M. Wemmer
Michael Stüwe
Affiliation:
Convervation & Research Center, Smithsonian Institution, Front Roual, VA 22630, USA. E-mail: mstuewe@sover.net
Jasmi B. Abdul
Affiliation:
Convervation & Research Center, Smithsonian Institution, Front Roual, VA 22630, USA. E-mail: nzpem002@sivm.si.edu
Burhanuddin Mohd. Nor
Affiliation:
Department of Wildlife and national Parks, Km 10, Jalan Cheras, 50664 Kula Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: kp@jphltn.sains.my
Christen M. Wemmer
Affiliation:
Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Km 10 Jalan Cheras, 50664 Kula Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: kp@jphltn.sains.my
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Abstract

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Malaysia incurs damage worth millions of dollars annually from elephants feeding in plantations. In response, the Malaysian Wildlife Department has translocated over 392 elephants from plantations into protected areas since 1974. Dense rain forest and steep terrain at the release sites have made it near impossible to follow the movements of the released elephants and evaluate the success of the programme. In October 1995, a translocated female elephant was fitted with a satellite transmitter to determine its post-release movements. By August 1996, the female had moved within a range of 7000 sq km. The movements were erratic initially and covered a large area. They were followed by a shift in location twice, each time covering successively smaller areas. Attempts to locate and follow the female on the ground revealed no evidence that she travelled in a group. A second, male, elephant was equipped with a satellite transmitter in February 1996 and by August 1996, it had moved within a range of 350 sq km. An attempt to locate and follow the male on the ground provided evidence that he was in a group of at least three individuals. The difference in the behaviour of the two elephants, released at exactly the same location, is striking, but additional elephants need to be followed to increase sample size and allow a scientific explanation of the findings.

Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , January 1998 , pp. 68 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1998

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