Characterizing Properties And Drivers Of Long Distance Movements By Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) In The Gourma, Mali. (2013)

Wide-ranging, landscape-level movements by terrestrial herbivores are increasingly threatened globally. Understanding the ecology of spatio-temporal movement patterns is critical for conservation of wide-ranging terrestrial species and the ecosystems on which they rely. The range of the Gourma elephant population inhabiting the Sahelian eco-region near Tombouctou (Timbuktu), Mali encompasses the largest areal extent in this species (29% greater than range sizes reported in other populations). Over the course of a year, the Gourma elephants (Loxodonta africana) move in a coordinated north–south movement pattern that is relatively unique for the species.