Recherches sur la biologie de nutrition et les habitats préférés de l’éléphant de forêt, Loxodonta africana cyclotis Matschie, 1900

Abstract

For 6 mo. the ecology of the forest elephant L. a. cyclotis in the Tai National Park in the southwestern Ivory Coast was studied. Research was concentrated on their food and their preferred habitat. The resources of the secondary pluvial forest are used most intensely; only their combination with the primary pluvial forest offers the forest elephant the best possible living conditions. The advantages of the secondary pluvial forest are the coexistence of heliophilous and sciaphilous vegetation and the space which allows free movement. The primary pluvial forest is useful to the forest elephant because of its great abundance of fruit. Forest elephants ate branches and bark as well as fruit.