The report of the
aerial wildlife census that was conducted between October and November
2018 covering 27 wildlife species indicates that elephants have
increased by 284, zebra 6,190 while number of hippopotamus rose by
7,843.
It covered a total
area of 104,143 km² that embrace Mikumi National Park, Selous Game
Reserve, Kilombero Game Controlled Area and Selous-Niassa wildlife
corridor.
Current statistics
from the report have it that, the surveyed area has 15,501 elephants, up
from 15,217 that were recorded in the previous study conducted in 2014.
This means that
there is no further decline in the elephant population in the
Selous-Mikumi ecosystem, and that the stabilising of the number of
elephants combined with few incidences of fresh carcasses indicates that
poaching has been brought under control.
Wildebeeste numbers, however have fallen by 72 percent over the last 22 years, and 'lesser' antelope by a whopping 97% in the same period. The very high carcass ratios suggest a lot of bushmeant hunting is taking place. However the carcass ratio has dropped significantly by the time this last survey was conducted.
Wildebeeste numbers, however have fallen by 72 percent over the last 22 years, and 'lesser' antelope by a whopping 97% in the same period. The very high carcass ratios suggest a lot of bushmeant hunting is taking place. However the carcass ratio has dropped significantly by the time this last survey was conducted.
