Elephant capture, collaring and radio-tracking in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Abstract

Tarangire hosts about 2000 elephant, the largest population in northern Tanzania. During the rainy season most of the large herbivores, including elephant, leave the Park and disperse into the Masai Steppe region. In November 1997 5 cows, representing three different subpopulations of elephant found within the Park, were radio collared: one from the northern group, and two each from groups in the central and southern subpopulations. In February 1999 three collars were replaced and two additional animals were collared. Movements of the collared animals are tersely reviewed. The map illustrates that cows from the northern and central subgroups moved within the immediate area and for the most part remained in the Park. Those of the southern subpopulation moved much more widely and traversed areas well into the Kiketo region to the southeast - both cows moved rapidly and at night.