Elephants turn nocturnal to evade poachers
ELEPHANTS are becoming nocturnal creatures to avoid the poachers hunting them to the brink of extinction, a study has shown.
Researchers found that African elephants now move more at night in areas that suffer high levels of ivory poaching. But conservationists say the change in behaviour when in a ‘landscape of fear’ may have long-term implications for their survival.
The idea that elephants are becoming more nocturnal was observed last year in a bull elephant named Morgan, who was being tracked on Kenya’s coast with a GPS collar as he moved towards the war-torn nation of Somalia.
Morgan increased his nocturnal activity as he entered the dangerous region – moving only by night and staying hidden in thick bush all day to avoid detection. The research was conducted by conservation group Save The Elephants and the University of Twente in Holland, together with the Kenya Wildlife Service. Save The Elephants founder Iain Douglas-Hamilton said: ‘This study shows the adaptability of earth’s largest land mammal to adapt their behaviour flexibly in order to stay safe.
‘This alteration in movement behaviour has implications for their foraging strategy, reproduction and survival, which are not yet fully understood.’
The study was published online by the Journal of Ecological Indicators.