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Elephants and buffalo showed the clearest signs of range expansion after translocation in Malawi

Research · Ecology

What happens after large herbivores are moved into a reserve? A six-year camera-trap study in Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Malawi, followed changes in the distribution of nine translocated species. The researchers used models of camera-trap records to estimate which parts of the reserve each species used and how that use changed over time.

Species showed different recovery patterns

African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) showed the strongest evidence of becoming established and spreading into more of the reserve. Common eland (Taurotragus oryx), greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), plains zebra (Equus quagga) and impala (Aepyceros melampus) also showed positive trends, but these were weaker or less consistent. Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) showed signs of establishment without expansion. Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) and common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) had negative trends, although evidence for a waterbuck decline was weak.

The species also differed in their relationships with tree density, distance to water, elevation, slope and the reserve boundary. These relationships varied by species and season, suggesting that no single habitat pattern described how all nine herbivores used the reserve.

Translocation is often intended to restore wildlife to an area, but tracking where animals establish and whether they spread can show how a multi-species effort is progressing. The camera-trap patterns describe distribution and use of the reserve; they do not directly measure population size. The authors argue that continued monitoring is needed to distinguish early recovery, behavioural shifts and year-to-year variation from longer-term population responses.

Sources and image credit

  1. Spatial ecology and recovery patterns of a translocated mammal community in southern AfricaPrimary journal article. The accessible abstract reports the study area, six-year camera-trap dataset, nine species and principal findings. The full article was not accessible for this verification; details beyond the abstract have not been included.

Image: Giles Laurent / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Representative photograph. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

About this content: This story was produced with AI assistance within an editorial workflow developed by Wildlife Vagabond. Editorial responsibility remains with Wildlife Vagabond.How AI is used

Ecology

SPECIES IN THIS STORY

Species in this story

African Buffalo Syncerus caffer Explore species African Bush Elephant Loxodonta africana Explore species Plains Zebra Equus quagga Explore species Impala Aepyceros melampus Explore species Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros Explore species Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Explore species Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus Explore species

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