An elephant (Loxodonta africana) survey using dung counts in the forests of the Central African Republic

ABSTRACT In May and June of 1989 data on elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) dung density were collected in the main forested areas of the Central African Republic. A total of 147.0 km of line transects (N = 14 transects, = 10.50 km, SD = 3.79) was completed. Dung was recorded in 37.4% of the 294 sectors of 0.5 km each. The overall dung density was estimated to be 266 piles km -2 ( = 382, SD = 383.7). The highest dung density was found in the proposed Dzanga-Sangha Reserve in the extreme south-west with 1166 piles km -2 (N = 12 sectors of 0.5 km). The south-eastern forests were found to have an intermediate dung density of 336 piles km -2 (N = 215 sectors of 0.5 km, = 419, SD = 308). In the eastern section of the south-western forests no dung was recorded along survey transects (N = 67 sectors of 0.5 km). These data indicate that elephant populations are still relatively high in the forests of south-western and south-eastern Central African Republic, while the population in the eastern section of the south-western forests has diminished to a very low level.