Physiological stress response of African elephants to wildlife tourism in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

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dc.contributor.author Szott, Isabelle D.
dc.contributor.author Pretorius, Yolanda
dc.contributor.author Ganswindt, Andre
dc.contributor.author Koyama, Nicola F.
dc.date.accessioned 2019-12-11T12:47:34Z
dc.date.available 2019-12-11T12:47:34Z
dc.date.issued 2020-02
dc.description.abstract CONTEXT : Wildlife tourism has been shown to increase stress in a variety of species and can negatively affect individuals’ survival, reproduction, welfare, and behaviour. In African elephants Loxodonta africana increased physiological stress has been linked to use of refugia, rapid movement through corridors, and heightened aggression towards humans. However, we are unaware of any studies assessing the impact of tourist pressure (tourist numbers) on physiological stress in elephants. AIMS : We used faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations to investigate whether tourist numbers in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, were related to changes in physiological stress in elephants. METHODS : We repeatedly collected dung samples (n=43) from 13 individually identified elephants over 15 months. Using a Generalised Linear Mixed Model and a Kenward-Roger approximation, we assessed the impact of monthly tourist numbers, season, age, and sex on elephant fGCM concentrations. KEY RESULTS : High tourist numbers were significantly related to elevated fGCM concentrations. Overall, fGCM concentrations increased by 112% (from 0.26 to 0.55 µg/g dry weight) in the months with highest tourist pressure, compared to months with lowest tourist pressure. CONCLUSIONS : Managers of fenced reserves should consider providing potential alleviation measures for elephants during high tourist pressure, for example, by ensuring refuge areas are available. This may be of even higher importance if elephant populations have had traumatic experiences with humans in the past, such as poaching or translocation. Such management action will improve elephant welfare and increase tourist safety. IMPLICATIONS : Whilst tourism can generate substantial revenue to support conservation action, careful monitoring of its impact on wildlife is required to manage potential negative effects. en_ZA
dc.description.department Anatomy and Physiology en_ZA
dc.description.department Centre for Wildlife Management en_ZA
dc.description.department Mammal Research Institute en_ZA
dc.description.librarian hj2019 en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorship The AESOP (A European and South African Partnership on Heritage and Past) Erasmus Mundus Programme Mobility Scholarship and the Liverpool John Moores University Matched Funding Scholarship. The Goodwill Foundation, the Madikwe Concessionaires Fund and various private individuals. en_ZA
dc.description.uri http://www.publish.csiro.au/wr en_ZA
dc.identifier.citation Szott, Y., Pretorius, Y., Ganswindt, A. 2020, 'Physiological stress response of African elephants to wildlife tourism in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa', Wildlife Research, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 34-43. en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn 1035-3712 (print)
dc.identifier.issn 1448-5494 (online)
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2263/72622
dc.language.iso en en_ZA
dc.publisher CSIRO Publishing en_ZA
dc.rights © CSIRO 2019. This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form. en_ZA
dc.subject Conservation en_ZA
dc.subject Faeces en_ZA
dc.subject Stress endocrinology en_ZA
dc.subject Physiology en_ZA
dc.subject Wildlife management en_ZA
dc.subject Welfare en_ZA
dc.subject African elephant (Loxodonta africana) en_ZA
dc.subject Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) en_ZA
dc.subject Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa en_ZA
dc.subject Tourist numbers en_ZA
dc.subject Physiological stress en_ZA
dc.subject.other Veterinary science articles SDG-08 en_ZA
dc.subject.other Veterinary science articles SDG-15 en_ZA
dc.subject.other SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth
dc.subject.other SDG-15: Life on land
dc.title Physiological stress response of African elephants to wildlife tourism in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa en_ZA
dc.type Preprint Article en_ZA


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