module # 1 – natural navigation · 2019-11-28 · 1 capturing elephant module 7 - component 1...

– Capture, Care & Management of Wildlife Course

This course material is the copyrighted intellectual property of WildlifeCampus. It may not be copied, distributed or

reproduced in any format whatsoever without the express written permission of WildlifeCampus.

1

Capturing Elephant

Module 7 - Component 1

Capturing Elephant

Introduction

Observations in this Module cover animal behaviour under capture situations to help

interpret the behavioural patterns seen and to predict each species’ reaction to the

techniques described, particularly their vulnerability to capture stress in each situation.

Of interest will be behaviour not generally known to wildlife enthusiasts unless they are

directly involved in capturing. All the so-called thick-skinned species are discussed

here, including giraffes. Several books describe the habits and distributions of large

mammals in southern Africa. There are, however, additional behavioural traits that are

not covered but are nevertheless important when considering capture and

translocation. Consequently, this Module deliberately omits general behavioural

aspects and concentrates only on those that are important to consider when

capturing or culling. One must obviously still have a sound knowledge of the animals’

general characteristics and behavioural patterns to deal with them successfully. In

fact, as a matter of principle, it is important to study any literature on the animal,

continually building up one’s knowledge to improve capture efficiency.




2

Capturing Elephant

Experience has shown that success in capturing is dependent on one’s knowledge of

the animal and not necessarily on the best method of capture. Persons without

previous experience in this regard are advised to study an animal’s general

behavioural traits in one of the following books before proceeding with specific

behavioural traits, as indicated in this section of the book:

Kenmuir, D. & Williams, R. 1975. Wild Mammals: a bundu series. Salisbury: Longman

Rhodesia.

Dorst, J. & Dandelot, P. 1970. The Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa.

London: Collins.

Smithers, R. 1983. The Mammals of the southern African subregion. Pretoria:

University of Pretoria.

Walker, C. 1996. Signs of the wild. Cape Town: Struik.

Estes, R.D. 1999. The Safari Companion: a guide to watching African mammals.

Harare: Tutorial Press.

Goss, R. 1986. Mammals of southern Africa. Johannesburg: Delta Books.

Stuart, C. & Stuart, T. 2003. Tracks and Signs. Johannesburg: Southern Books

Alternatively, WildlifeCampus offers a wide range of Ethology of Animal Behaviour

Courses, including a series on the Behaviour Guide to African Herbivores, Carnivores

and Primates. The animals considered here have not been placed in the usual

taxonomic order, but according to size from the largest to the smallest. Proven field-

use drug dosages for the capture of these animals are given as a basic guideline. It is

accepted that dosage preferences will vary from operator to operator and over time

as information is updated. Tables of other published dosages of the principal drugs

used are found in Module # 1 Component # 1 of this course under the Appendices

Heading.




3

Capturing Elephant

Elephant

Due to their large size, adult elephants until recently were not translocated, as the

operation posed immense logistical problems. Occasionally, large bulls and cows

were darted to place collars on them for research purposes. Calves, on the other

hand, were easily captured and translocated from routine culling programmes. Over

the last ten years, culling has ceased due to political and animal welfare pressure. This

has provided impetus to the need to translocate complete elephant herds, as

pioneered in Zimbabwe by Clem Coetsee and improved upon by other units

throughout southern Africa.

Elephants are extremely social animals. They have a defined herd structure based on

the family unit; animals in small herds are therefore all directly related. One of the older

mature cows is the herd matriarch that directs the daily activities of the herd. Family

bonds are extremely strong, and the animals remain in constant communication

among themselves. Their means of communication is believed to be a low-frequency

gurgling, which is largely unheard by the human ear and transmitted over

considerable distances. Members of the herd are also strongly protective of each

other, particularly calves, rendering aid whenever one of them is in trouble.




4

Capturing Elephant

Bulls only venture into the herds once a cow comes into oestrous and move away

once she has been covered. Bulls, particularly young ones, form their own social

group. Often, they congregate in specific areas known as “bulls’ areas”, sometimes

numbering up to fifty individuals at a time. Young bulls are forced from the herd by the

matriarch upon reaching puberty, which occurs at approximately twelve years of age.

Experience during culls has indicated that there is a higher incidence of mature bulls

accompanying the cowherds in March to May, gradually declining through to

September–October when cowherds are usually free of them.

The only successful method for capturing adults is to dart with M99 and Azaperone.

M99 on its own will lead to the pink froth syndrome, because of lung oedema as a

result of high blood pressure. Although many operators consider tranquillisers

unnecessary, our experience has shown that at low levels, Azaperone is beneficial in

counteracting tremors and an increase in body temperature, thus providing for

smoother anaesthesia of the animals. An Etorphine combination with 30–40 mg of

Azaperone is preferred for adults. Etorphine is less recommended for calves, as

incidents of respiratory failure have been known to occur if used without Azaperone.

For the capture of calves after they have been manually restrained, Xylazine on its

own is preferred to Etorphine. With experience, it is extremely effective despite

thermoregulatory problems reported in other animals.




5

Capturing Elephant

Darting of individuals may be carried out on foot. This, however, can be extremely

dangerous and often prompts repeated mock charges by adults until the selected

animal can be darted. Darting is more successfully carried out using a helicopter aided

by a fixed-wing aircraft, initially to spot the target animal and then to monitor drug

onset after the animal has been darted until it goes down.

This reduces helicopter expense and has proved to be particularly successful for

darting sub-adults from established elephant herds. Elephants can be darted almost

anywhere on the body; however, the ears often deflect darts intended for the

shoulder. From the air, an experienced operator should be able to place the darts well

into the rump below the tail or slightly beyond it, but well into the pelvic region. Darts

forward of the pelvic bones usually slow down drug absorption. The author advocates

the use of fairly high dosages of M99: 10–12 mg for a large cow and up to 14 mg for

large bulls, although dosages as high as 16 mg have been reported for a large adult

bull. The remainder of the herd usually detects the onset of the drug in the darted

animal before the operator notes signs. The herd immediately becomes concerned

and begins to nudge the ailing animal in an effort to render aid to it and remove it

from danger.




6

Capturing Elephant

It is important to remember that elephants breathe through their trunks and not their

mouths. It is therefore essential to ensure that the trunk is free once the animal goes

down, to maintain proper airflow. A person must be assigned to monitor this constantly.

Elephants must be maintained in a head-up position, irrespective of the terrain, to

prevent the abdominal organs placing pressure on the lungs and so suffocating the

animal. Once the animal finally goes down, other members of the herd usually

attempt to get it back on its feet. Occasionally, the others can inflict serious damage

and they should be driven off by the helicopter as quickly as possible. It is important

that the animal is pulled over onto its side if it has gone down on its sternum; otherwise,

abdominal pressure is placed on the heart and chest, restricting lung movement.

When fitting a collar, it should be prepared well in advance so that it can be fitted as

quickly as possible to ensure that the animal is narcotised for as short a time as possible.

If the animal is exceptionally hot, it should be cooled down by pouring water over its

neck and ears. Manually flap its ears to help cool it down and place leafy branches

over it to protect it from direct sunlight. On prolonged operations, individual animals

should be turned over every 1,5 hours to provide for blood circulation to the limbs. This

will prevent lameness later on and pooling of blood in the lung closest to the ground.




7

Capturing Elephant

Reversal of M99 is most easily achieved by injecting the antidote into in one of the

large ear veins, taking 1,5–2 minutes for the animal to regain its feet. The drug should

not be administered to a vein junction, as it may cause a portion of the ear to die off

in the event of damage to this area, restricting blood flow there. In the Kruger National

Park, it has been noted that old bulls that have been repeatedly darted every second

year to change the radio batteries have responded less favourably to drugs each

successive time they have been darted, particularly those bulls with large tusks. They

appear to have problems in regaining their feet, taking longer each time to get up.

On some occasions, 12–18 hours passed before the bull finally stood up. There are

some reports, however, that this may have been due to a viral infection that damaged

the animal’s heart.

The capture of calves from non-culled herds is extremely difficult and may lead to

some of the cows being shot in self-defence. From a cull, however, particularly where

it has been successful, calves are relatively easily captured, provided a well-organised

team is used. On average, from each herd culled, one can expect to find at least 10%

of its total number being calves ranging from newborn calves to three-year-old

juveniles measuring some 1,2 m at the shoulder. Once the cull is in progress, while the

remaining animals are confused and milling around, the calves can be caught

manually (refer to Module # 14 for more details). Provided that the initiative is taken at

this point, even comparatively large sub-adults can be roped and Xylazine

administered using a pole syringe with little danger to the operator. The animals are

then left for the drug to take full effect.




8

Capturing Elephant

They are gently led away and tied under shade together until they can be transported

to suitable pens. (Refer to an earlier Component for Xylazine dosages for elephant

calves.) After the calves have been placed in pens awaiting relocation, even if only

held for two days, administer only half the suggested dosage to achieve the same

result. This is because the animals will have become tamer, although this might not be

obvious. Captured calves should be arranged in groups according to shoulder height

to prevent larger calves bullying the smaller ones if several were caught together. It is

more important, however, that immediately upon capture the animals remain in their

respective family groups as required for distribution. This will reduce further stress to

them later by splitting them up again. Ideally, on large culling operations, larger

individual calves kept back the previous season may be reintroduced to a new family

group of smaller calves imprinting upon them. The larger calves could then assume

the role of matriarch later in life. It is important for the calves to remain in the same

group thereafter, and not be constantly mixed and remixed.




9

Capturing Elephant

A surrogate “mother”, in the form of the person who will take care of the group’s daily

needs, should be introduced to the group as soon as possible after capture. The group

will then tame down quickly and become completely attached to the attendant,

following him or her everywhere as a “herd”. The memory of elephants is legendary.

Reports have clearly indicated that even after many years of separation from the

attendant the now adult animal still remembers him, tolerating his touch while

rejecting the approach of anybody else. Herds have been established from distant-

related animals in the past and appear to function normally thereafter, although

problems have been experienced once sub-adult bulls come into musth in areas

without adult elephants to discipline them.

Calves have been adopted by herds originally built up from previous culls, even years

previously, but they usually are not tolerated by established herds. Consequently,

calves escaping from a cull usually run the gauntlet of being rejected by herd after

herd. Often, they end up being taken by a lion from the periphery of a herd into which

they are trying to gain acceptance.

module # 1 – natural navigation · 2019-11-28 · 1 capturing elephant module 7 - component 1...

Documents