Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T08:49:53.014Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Elephants or Fire—Which to Blame?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Is it always necessary to cull large populations of wild animals such as elephants and hippos, when they appear to be destroying their habitat? In ORYX May 1969, C. A. R. Savory argued the case for doing so in Rhodesia, and the question of whether to crop elephants in parks such as the Tsavo and the Kruger has caused heated controversy. In this article the authors, drawing on their experience of the Luangwa Valley in Zambia, where a cropping scheme was started in 1966, suggest that what appears to be destruction there may not necessarily be so, and that the real vegetation killer is fire in the dry season. R. M. Lawton is an ecologist with the Land Resources Division of the British Directorate of Overseas Surveys, and Mrs Gough is a skilled observer of animal behaviour with considerable experience in Zambia.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1970

References

Bainbridge, W.R. 1966 The role of wildlife in exploiting the undeveloped areas of Zambia. Zambia Dec. 1966, pages 2437. Published by Zambia Information services, P.O. Box RW 20, Lusaka, Zambia. Falcon Press Ltd, N'dola.Google Scholar
Bainbridge, W.R. 1967 The reaping of the game harvest in Zambia. Zambia January 1967. Published by Zambia Information Services, P.O. Box RW 20, Lusaka, Zambia. Falcon Press Ltd, N'dola.Google Scholar
Buss, I. and Smith, N. 1966. Family planning among elephants. New Scientist November 1966, No. 519, page 215.Google Scholar
Darling, F.F. 1960 Wild Life in an African Territory, page 91. O.U.P. 1960.Google Scholar
de Vos, A. 1968 Problems in national parks management in East Africa. Unasylva Vol 22 (3) No. 90. 1968.Google Scholar
Savory, C.A.R. 1969 Crisis in Rhodesia. Oryx Vol X No I 05 1969, pp. 2530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar