Elephant Data

Field data compiled during culling (herd thinning) operations intended to mitigate elephant overpopulation in 1965-1969 at environmentally stressed sites: Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest, Tsavo, and Mkomasi. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity, body and organ measurements, age estimates, reproductive status, and disease observations were collected post mortem and recorded on 3,175 data sheets. The data sheets are unique because the large number of individuals is unlikely to be reproduced, and the sampling represents natural (albeit environmentally stressed) family groups rather than trophies or weak individuals. Digital reproductions of the data sheets are currently available online (http://ufdc.ufl.edu/l/AA00013409/). In addition to these data sheets, a volume titled "Elephant Stomach Content Analyses" is stored with Oversize Materials in Box 46. Researchers should note that the files in this Elephant Data group pertain specifically to the 1960s culling project, but data on elephants can be found throughout this collection (e.g., there are numerous files pertaining to the ivory trade and poaching that include elephant data).