Elephant density and impact on Kalahari woodland habitats

Over-abundance of elephants could result in a decline of woodlands and tall canopied trees. Elephant carrying capacity of woodlands can be defined as the subsistence of a threshold number of elephants in woodlands where the growth of tall trees is not impaired. The aim of this study was to assess elephant damage in three woodland types dominated by Acacia erioloba, Baikiaea plurijuga and Colophospermum mopane which were monitored in plots distributed throughout northern Botswana. Contemporary densities of woody plants of nine height classes were compared with the associated local elephant densities and fire occurrences. Woodland types differed with respect to structure, extent of elephant damage and the occurrence of fire. It seems that woodlands sustaining high elephant impact, such as C. mopane can carry more elephants because of a healthy age structure. Inherently low seedling recruitment rates and high occurrences of fire preclude the carrying capacity of A. erioloba and B. plurijuga for elephants, although elephant-induced damage to trees is low.