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The study to conduct a preliminary investigation of the elephant migration between Greater Ruaha and Selous ecosystems was conducted in 2008/2009. The study was intended to establish if there are elephant movements between Ruaha and Mikumi NPs. Specifically the study attempted to establish and track the existing and possibly dead elephant migration routes from Ruaha to Mikumi, and identifying important locations along the route and threats facing the corridor and elephants in the survey area.
The survey used a number of techniques including literature survey, interviews and direct field observations. Researchers tracked on foot from Ruaha to Mikumi the elephant routes, taking GPS coordinates at important locations, taking photographs, interviewing people and assessing habitat and elephant dung along the migration routes. Vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles were used to assist researchers reach certain locations for investigation. The study was spread in three regions of Iringa, Dodoma and Morogoro and encompassing four districts of Iringa rural, Mpwapwa, Kilolo and Kilosa. Villages covered during the study from Ruaha National Park towards Mikumi National Park include Kinyika, Kisanga, Mboliboli, Makuka, Izazi, Migori, Makatapora (Kinyari subvillage), Migori in Iringa Rural District, Mkulula, Nyanzwa, Igunda, Mgowero, Mtandika and Ruaha Mbuyuni in Kilolo District. Others are Malolo, Kisanga, Msolwa, Madizini, Kidai, and Ihombwe in Kilosa District. Two additional villages of Idodoma and Singonari were from Mpwapwa District.
Evidence collected from this study strongly supports the hypothesis that there is elephant migration between Greater Ruaha and Selous ecosystems. This is also supported by a significant number of people (P < 0.001) interviewed in the survey area. Villagers showed researchers the elephant routes, described the routes and explained when and how elephants pass in their areas including seasons, time of the day and associated human elephant conflicts. Other information included dead elephant routes, changing patterns of elephant routes and threats facing the elephant corridor. Villagers were able to tell about presence of resident elephants, group sizes of migrating elephants and even differentiate between elephants originating from Mikumi against those from Ruaha in terms of body and tusks size, colour and behaviour.
The study reports that there is basically one broad elephant corridor (with several routes) from Ruaha NP up to areas around Ruaha Mbuyuni a place which appears to be the point of departure. From here there are three separate corridors two leading to Mikumi National Park and one leading to Udzungwa NP and possibly also to Mikumi. Nevertheless, some sections of the routes are yet to be verified. Field observations revealed that the elephant routes are under serious threat from farming, settlements, livestock keeping, human disturbances including noises, and combination of these factors.
Since there is convincing evidence of the presence of the elephant link between the two ecosystems a more detailed study using radio/satellite tracking is proposed as well as immediate efforts to rescue the landscape, the elephants paths and habitat in places where they are seriously encroached. This will ensure that the elephant populations of the Greater Ruaha ecosystem are |
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