Trends of the elephant population in northern Botswana from aerial survey data

Abstract

Summarizes methods and results of aerial surveys since 1973, and presents a history of the elephant population in Botswana with estimates of recent trends provided by survey data. Aerial surveys of northern Botswana's elephants have been taking place since the early 1970s. While it is not possible to use all of the data from the surveys, they provide evidence to suggest that since 1987 the population of elephants in northern Botswana has increased to the present level of about 80,000 animals at a rate of around 6% per annum. Their range, which has expanded south and westward, changes seasonally, but is largely outside protected areas.