Etosha National Park

The first elephants (in recent times) appeared in Etosha in the 1950s. The population increased fairly rapidly after 1966 reaching 2,800 animals by 1983. This increase exceeds any growth possible from natural reproduction. At a growth rate of 4.56% (see section on reproduction), it would have required 614 elephants in 1950 or 1,253 elephants in 1966 to attain a population of 2,800 elephants in 1983. It must therefore be presumed that it was due to an influx of animals from areas outside Etosha. This would have coincided with the period of intensive illegal hunting by the South African Defence Forces in the north-west (1975-1983) and the hunting pressure may have contributed to the immigration into the park. Since 1983 the Etosha population has fluctuated between 500-2,500 animals.

The North-West

In the 1950s and 1960s there were more elephants in the north-west than in Etosha National Park. The build-up of elephants in Etosha after 1970 coincides with the period of illegal hunting by South African Defence Forces in the north-west (Figure 12). Viljoen (1987,1988) documented over 100 elephant carcases in the north-west between 1980-1983 and Loutit (2004) recorded a further 58 carcases after 1987. Owen-Smith (2002) asserts that less than 70 elephants survived in the western areas by 1982 but this claim is at variance with a number of surveys between 1976 and 1982 which showed at least 200 elephants. However, the population remained depressed as a result of hunting during this period and, significantly, the Etosha population increased sharply. From 1986-2004 the north-west population has increased from some 300 animals to about 800 – a rate which is marginally higher than might be expected from the intrinsic growth rate and requires no assumption that the population has been augmented from Etosha.

Lindeque (1988) has pointed out that a single regional population occupies Etosha and the North-west and that migrations in and out of Etosha National Park take place continuously.