Elephant utilization of Colophospermum mopane : possible benefits of hedging

The pattern of utilization of Colophospermum mopane by elephant was investigated in a semi‐arid savanna, the Venetia‐Limpopo Nature Reserve, South Africa, using an animal‐based approach. C. mopane is a staple food item in the diet of elephant, with most individual trees being utilized lightly (< 10% of biomass removed). Utilization of branch, foliage and main stems accounted for most of the utilization of trees < 4 m high whilst utilization of bark accounted for the majority of utilization of trees > 4 m high. The most preferred height of utilization of branches was < 1 m above ground level, reflecting the short stature of C. mopane in the study area. Elephant selected C. mopane trees < 2 m in height that had been previously utilized by them; specifically trees where the terminal part of the main stem had been previously broken and had been coppiced (hedging). The preferred size range of branches utilized by elephant was 0.946–1.718 cm in diameter; hedged C. mopane trees in the 1–2 m category had, on average, significantly more branches within this size range than non‐hedged trees. This hedging of C. mopane appears to have increased the availability of a preferred food item.