What happened to the Selous elephants?

[WilhelmM]

I'm sure we're all aware that the elephant population in the Selous has taken a beating for the past few decades. I've been looking for resources pointing to the reasons as to why the elephant population declined so significantly in the reserve. However, most of the articles I've found are quite old so I'm not entirely sure what to believe. If anyone knows what's going on with the elephants, please let me know. This might be a bit of a strange post but I think it's good that as hunters, we know what is happening with certain species and how we can properly manage them.

 

[Royal27]

Organized poaching

 

[Brent in Az]

Rampant poaching

 

[Wheels]

2006-2015 organized poaching coordinated to get the ivory to China is what decimated the elephant population in the Selous. This poaching happened in multiple areas of Africa where elephants were present and politicians had their hands out. The Selous to Niassa ecosystem was especially hard hit.

You should be able to find some information on AH using the search tools, or just use a search engine. There is quite a bit of information available.

 

[Safari1]

2006-2015 organized poaching coordinated to get the ivory to China is what decimated the elephant population in the Selous. This poaching happened in multiple areas of Africa where elephants were present and politicians had their hands out. The Selous to Niassa ecosystem was especially hard hit.

You should be able to find some information on AH using the search tools, or just use a search engine. There is quite a bit of information available.

Yep that’s it.

If you go back further the first poaching wave was say 85’ to 89’. During that poaching wave eles went from 110k to 35k.

They did increase from 35k up to about 75k in 06’ or so then the 2nd wave dropped them to 15k.

Long road to recovery..they have been fairly well protected since 15’

 

[WilhelmM]

Yep that’s it.

If you go back further the first poaching wave was say 85’ to 89’. During that poaching wave eles went from 110k to 35k.

They did increase from 35k up to about 75k in 06’ or so then the 2nd wave dropped them to 15k.

Long road to recovery..they have been fairly well protected since 15’

Let's hope their numbers continue to increase. From what I've been told by mates who study biology and have worked in reserves like the Kruger, the elephants in the Selous are apparently quite special when it comes to size. Not as big as the ones you'd find in Tsavo but still very large.

 

[Safari1]

Let's hope their numbers continue to increase. From what I've been told by mates who study biology and have worked in reserves like the Kruger, the elephants in the Selous are apparently quite special when it comes to size. Not as big as the ones you'd find in Tsavo but still very large.

Probably 20 years to get back to 60k

 

[Brent in Az]

Wasn't it the poaching and decrease in Elephant population, that led to the USFW banning trophy imports from Tanzania, and other countries?

 

[Safari1]

Wasn't it the poaching and decrease in Elephant population, that led to the USFW banning trophy imports from Tanzania, and other countries?

I’m sure ...it is a disgrace what happened... twice!!

 

[Wheels]

Let's hope their numbers continue to increase. From what I've been told by mates who study biology and have worked in reserves like the Kruger, the elephants in the Selous are apparently quite special when it comes to size. Not as big as the ones you'd find in Tsavo but still very large.

I think the Selous elephants hold their own with most, including Tsavo. The Selous elephants and the Niassa elephants are part of the same ecosystem. Many moving with the rains.

Outfitters would take 5-10 hundred pounders out of the Selous every season into the mid to late1970's. There is a photo of a couple bulls over 150 each from the early 70's. I have followed the tracks of a bull who rested his tusks on the ground when he stopped in the Selous. He had to back up creek beds because his ivory wouldn't allow him to go forward.

Tsavo got it's reputation from being a British colony where English speaking people hunted, and books were written about those hunts. Tsavo was also easy to get to compared to the Selous, allowing more people to hunt.

 

[Wheels]

Probably 20 years to get back to 60k

That's probably about right. I think normal herd growth in elephants is around 6% per year.

 

[Firebird]

The big dam and lake aren’t going to help-

 

[WilhelmM]

I think the Selous elephants hold their own with most, including Tsavo. The Selous elephants and the Niassa elephants are part of the same ecosystem. Many moving with the rains.

Outfitters would take 5-10 hundred pounders out of the Selous every season into the mid to late1970's. There is a photo of a couple bulls over 150 each from the early 70's. I have followed the tracks of a bull who rested his tusks on the ground when he stopped in the Selous. He had to back up creek beds because his ivory wouldn't allow him to go forward.

Tsavo got it's reputation from being a British colony where English speaking people hunted, and books were written about those hunts. Tsavo was also easy to get to compared to the Selous, allowing more people to hunt.

Funny that you bring up tusk size considering that I've been, at this moment, looking at all the old photos from the '70s from Luke Samara's website. Absolutely amazed by the size and how seemingly common they were.

Luke Samaras Safaris Ltd » Classic Image Gallery

www.samarassafaris.com

 

[WilhelmM]

The big dam and lake aren’t going to help-

Honestly, I don't think the dam would affect the elephants much at all, I'm more concerned about the rhinos.

 

[Wheels]

Poached from the Selous 1971 Photo is Eric Balson’s

 

[WilhelmM]

Poached from the Selous 1971 Photo is Eric Balson’s View attachment 382131

Ain't that a damn shame.

 

[Wheels]

Funny that you bring up tusk size considering that I've been, at this moment, looking at all the old photos from the '70s from Luke Samara's website. Absolutely amazed by the size and how seemingly common they were.

Luke Samaras Safaris Ltd » Classic Image Gallery

www.samarassafaris.com

Definitely some amazing elephants in the classic gallery.

 

[Safari1]

Funny that you bring up tusk size considering that I've been, at this moment, looking at all the old photos from the '70s from Luke Samara's website. Absolutely amazed by the size and how seemingly common they were.

Luke Samaras Safaris Ltd » Classic Image Gallery

www.samarassafaris.com

In the 70’s there were 2 elephant on 21 day license and it was very easy to get them.

 

[Gemsbok45]

China

 

[AES]

More of China’s exploitation.