Abstract:
The climate, surface water, soil nutrients, vegetation composition and
the dependence of the local people within the study area on these
environmental components and various aspects of the ecology of
the Tongaland elephants, were examined. The objective was to provide
a management plan for a future elephant reserve. It was established
that a resident elephant population including breeding herds, existed
in Tongaland. An attempt was made to explain the differences in
local movement of the elephants during wet and dry seasons, and
movement across the Mozambique-Natal border. It appears that the
availability of surface water, food, and the presence of people
determined elephant movement and distribution. After determining
elephant habitat requirements and the dependence of the local people
on the resources in the study area, boundary proposals for an elephant
reserve were made, which should ensure the co-existence of the
human and elephant population, in Tongaland, KwaZulu.
