September 28, 2007, 17:45
The Knysna elephants, made famous through the books written by Dalene
Matthee, were thought to be on the verge of disappearing from the
forests around the Southern Cape Town. But recent research indicates
that a small elephant population still occupies the area and their
numbers are increasing.
DNA that was extracted from the dung left behind in the forests has
been tested and five females have been identified. The research
project is conducted by Gareth Patterson and conservation
geneticist, Lori Eggert. Up until now it was believed there was only
one surviving female elephant living in the forest.
Ivory hunting in the late 1800s decimated the population and by 1970
it was estimated there were only 11 left. Researchers are upbeat
following the confirmation of the five females. They are now trying
to find the DNA of bull elephants to explain the presence of calves.
"Contrary to popular opinion that this was a dying population made
up of old adults, what was discovered actually is that it is made up
of young adults in this area and all the spoor I have been seeing is
of young adult elephants," said Patterson.
"There are elephant feeding spots and footprints in the forest. One
just has to know what to look for. Spotting the elusive elephants in
the dense forest doesn't happen often but recently some of the
giants have been captured on film.
"I suspect there could be at least another two bulls, a couple of
calves, but who knows. We might be talking about eight or nine, but
that is just a minimum figure," he added.
The Knysna elephants are the only elephants in an unfenced area in
South Africa. They roam an area of 500 square kilometres that
includes the fynbos covered mountains in the area.
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