Forage Quality And Bark Utilisation By The African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) In Samburu And Buffalo Springs National Reserves, Kenya (2007)

Foraging behavior of elephants with respect to debarking of woody species was?investigated in Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves, Kenya. Acacia elatior was?the most preferred species followed by Acacia tortilis. Both A. elatior and A. tortilis? dominate the woody vegetation accounting for over 80% of all woody plants. Debarking ?levels varied in different parts of the reserves and this was attributed to elephants’ densities ?and the ultimate influence of endaphic factors on species assemblages. Species diversity ?indices were negatively correlated with salinity indicating a direct influence of salinity on ?plant community structure. Both Acacia tortilis and A. elatior have the highest tolerance to? salinity and occur almost exclusively in saline areas.