Further notes on pygmy and forest elephants

Abstract

Notes that the elephant population of Gramba National Park appers to be an inter-grade betweeen the savanna and the forest elephant with some groups showing predominantly forest type characteristics (small size, small round ears, and narrow straight tusks) while others illustrate savanna characterisitics (larger and different body strucuture, bigger ears and thicker curved tusks. The L a cyclotis type predominates although the Park is largely long grass and open savanna with surrounding woodlands dominated by deciduous trees of Combretum species rather than forest. The author notes that the Belgian operated Elephant Domestication Centre tended to capture the cyclotis type as these animals were reputed to be much more tractable. The staff of the centre also noted a smaller form of elephant which the local people spoke of and seemed to be found in the dense Raphia or swamp areas. The small size of captured small statured animals with tusks and the fact that some anmals did not grow much larger is noted.